Save Five Towns College Summer Pops 2017

The Five Towns College Summer Pops has been an annual tradition at Five Towns College for the past eight summers. This would have been the ninth year of bringing music and joy to the community. The summer Pops has been under the direction of Dean Karahalis since 2008. Dean Karahalis is a graduate from Mannes College of Music, Aaron Copland School of Music, C.U.N.Y. Queens, and Hofstra University as well as getting an Honorary Doctorate from Five Towns College for his dedication to the students and music department there. Dean Karahalis also has extensive performance experience with groups such as the Radio City Music Hall, The New York Lyric Opera, and is the director and founder of the New York Brass Choir as well as Conductor and Musical Director of The Concert Pops of Long Island.
In the world we live in now, music programs are unfortunately dying out in both public and private schools. How can an institution who prides itself on music and performance be cutting a program that brings both current students and alumni together to make connections that translate into the professional music and academic industry. This group also brings community members together as well, who enjoy listening to the hard work that brings musicians together.
The Summer Pops has more than just musicians who play in the ensemble, but also teachers, composers, radio hosts, audio majors, theater majors, film majors, business majors, high school students, and even some community members. The Pops has preformed at many venues over the past eight years including, Tanger Outlets at Christmas time and over the summer, Chelsea Mansion, Clark Botanic Gardens, Old Bethpage Restoration, Eisenhower Park, and most importantly our home venue, Dix Hills Performing Arts Center, located at Five Towns College.
The Summer Pops repertoire is not just limited to pop and commercial music. They have played extensive classical and contemporary works as well. Some classical works the Summer Pops have played are, Tchaikovsky’s Finale for his fourth Symphony and his Marche Slave, William Tell Overture by Rossini, Russian Sailors Dance by Reinhold Gliere, Light Cavalry by von Suppe, Barber of Seville Overture, and Poet and the Peasant by von Suppe. Some broadway original overtures that are arranged for concert bands are Les Misérables, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Sound Of Music and Carousel.The Summer Pops has also played some music from film scores such as John William’s original score for his Olympic Fanfare and Theme and Star Wars, Tribute to John Williams which was the same original score by Williams that was arranged for the Boston Pops. Dean Karahalis has selected these arrangements from the repertoire that he has used with his professional group.
The College Pops have had film majors create movies to play behind the band, while they perform a themed piece for the holidays, or springtime. They've also had student composers write music specifically for the band and have performed it at their concerts. Dean has also given the opportunity for Under graduate and Graduate level student conductors to conduct pieces they have worked on with the band at concerts that have been at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center and outside venues.
One student asked, how can a music school take away a music ensemble? Especially one that is so popular among the students and community?

“To have the alumni come back time and time again, year after year to perform speaks volumes not only about Five Towns, but about Dean Karahalis and his invaluable impression on the students. A music program, or any program at that, is nothing without a superb faculty.” Joe Gallagher, Five Towns College Alumni BA Music Ed 2014. Choral Director at Bethpage High School

“I look forward to it every year and even when I was living out in Arizona I came back in the summer special for band because it meant that much to me!” Melissa Ricn-Capuder Five Towns College Alumni, General Music Teacher St. Patricks Huntington.

"Summer band has been a great group that I have been lucky enough to be a part of. It was the first opportunity I had to have a large ensemble play a piece I had written for a graduate class. The college pops also performed my piece, with me conducting at one of the concerts. This experience gave me the opportunity to gain the confidence I needed to pursue my musical career.”-Lauren Lucente Five Towns College Alumni. BA Composition: 2012 MA Composition:2016.

“Dean Karahalis has been one of the biggest professional influences in my career. He has provided me with opportunities that I would not have been able to afford, in a competitive and disciplined field. He has been there for me as a mentor every step of the way. I know I can always count on him for professional support and guidance. Summer band was something I looked forward to every single year. It was an opportunity to showcase my musicianship to my students and give back to the community.” -Diana Fox
BA Music Ed.2009
MA Music History 2016
Former NYC Public School Teacher General Music K-2 2010-2017
Currently working in Uniondale Schools as General Music Teacher K-5

"Playing in the summer band has always been something I've looked forward to. As a vocalist, instruments were never my forte, but Professor Karahalis welcomed me and my clarinet with open arms. I know that I couldn't go to a local band because my skills aren't up to snuff (since it's not my main instrument), but playing in the summer band has significantly improved my abilities not only on the clarinet, but in sightreading and musicality overall. I have made such great friends with alumni and students and overall just LOVED this experience. It breaks my heart that it could go away. Please, bring it back!”- Anonymous

"Summer band has been something I have been doing for the past 6 years. I started coming before I even went to Five Towns College, because Dean Karahalis was the brass professor at the community college I attended. He told me about it and said it would help my playing and that I'd have fun, and should join. At the time I had very little confidence as a horn player and didn't think I was very good. But my first summer I had a blast and couldn't wait to do it the next summer. Fast forward almost 7 years later and I've become a full time band director, and someone who has occasional gigs. Dean Karahalis has always been a huge supporter tof mine as a musician and educator. And I will always be a big supporter of his. He is one of the main reasons I transferred to come to Five Towns College, which may have been the best decision I ever made. To see summer band be taken away from the alumni and current students is very depressing, since I've been part of it for so long and it has been such a monumental class in helping me grow as a musician. I would really like to see it brought back so students of all levels and ages can bring music to our community during the summer.”- Alexandria Muller Five Towns College Alumni BA Music Education:2015, Band Director at Paul Effman Music Service.

“I feel like students loved it and it's a disservice to young musicians and alumni involved with the school to have it taken away. It was a great opportunity and supplied an incredible amount of experience to everyone involved.” Justin Milliner. Five Towns College Alumni, Mass Communication degree 2013. Long Island Radio Broadcasting, Production Dept. Afternoon DJ on 101-7 The Beach

“The more quality FTC ensembles perform outside the college the better for all of us. It not only gives our students performance opportunity... but gets the college's name out there for the general public. We should not be a "secret" here- we should play and sing for all!”- Professor Steve Pagano

“Always looking forward to summer pops! Why did they come to the decision of not offering the summer pops this year? A lot of people I know never even knew FTC existed until they saw our summer pops concerts. Thank you”. Thomas C. Moran Five Towns College Alumni 2013 Music Ed. Locust Valley School and Bayville Intermediate music TA.

“Please reconsider having summer band lead by Dean Karahalis. This group provides entertainment for the community by the way of volunteers who give their time to rehearse to serve the community and keep music alive. Groups like this are extremely rare now a days and also provide a positive image for the college and community. Also the crowd's reaction when the children come on stage to conduct the final piece moves the entire audience which can range from almost 200 to up to 400 people who look forward to these events. Thank you for your time.” Sean Hammond Five Towns College Alumni 2012, BA Performance, Private Instructor at All Music

“I graduated 2012. Not long after did I see myself teaching in a high school in my town. The summer concert band gave me an opportunity to not only brush up on my playing, but it connected me to musicians who were also current students. It was an opportunity for me to share current job positions to prospective music educators. I am currently teaching at Excelsior Preparatory high school in Springfield Gardens New York. FTC plays a major part in my current success as a music educator. It's an opportunity to be challenged, as well as perform in a concert series that many people look forward to annually.” Tyquorn Lebron Five Towns College Alumni BA: Music Education 2012. Music Teacher Excelsior High School

“I am immensely saddened to hear this; I look forward to summer band every year! Not to mention, our outdoor concerts provide free publicity for the school!!”-Gabby Comanda Five Towns College Alumni December 2013 Administrative Assistant McGann-Mercy High School

“With all colleges hurting as they are, why would they throw away such great publicity?” Larry Rizzo BA Music Ed. Crane School Of Music 1990. Masters from Dowling College in Secondary Education. Obtained extra credits for his Masters from Five Towns College. Full Time music teacher in Franklin Square for last 21 years.