For the tenth year, the Comsewogue School District was recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The District earned NAMM’s2024 Best Communities for Music Education Award, which recognizes the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of the district’s music administrators, teachers and students.
“Music education is such an important part of our community, and we remain dedicated to fostering the talents and passions of all of our music students,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jennifer Quinn. “Earning NAMM’s prestigious distinction for ten years demonstrates the caliber, dedication and diligence or our music educators and students across our district. Our music program only continues to grow and offer more opportunities to our students.”
This past March, the Comsewogue High School and JFK Middle School marching bands performed together in the 263rd New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was just the second time in the District’s history that they had participated in the iconic event, at which students marched alongside the Suffolk County Firefighters Emerald Society as its official marching band.
In addition to providing daily music education on the elementary, middle and high school levels, the District’s music department provides frequent opportunities for students to perform in concerts, recitals, and during special events and plays for classmates and the community throughout the year.
The Best Communities for Music Education designation was awarded to just 975 school districts across the country, honoring those that demonstrated outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
Comsewogue received the Best Communities designation for ten years—the past eight of which were consecutive. To qualify, the Comsewogue School District answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 members around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.