High School Music
Fox Lane High School Music
The NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) surveys school districts across the United States seeking to acknowledge communities for their commitment to and support for music education in schools. For the second year in a row, the Bedford Central School District has been recognized as one of the 2024 NAMM Foundation Best Communities for Music Education.
The music course offerings provide a variety of experiences for students of all abilities and musical backgrounds. These courses are designed for students who wish to pursue music as an avocation as well as those planning a career in music. It is the philosophy of the music faculty to develop a life-long appreciation for music through a balance of both musical understanding and performing skills.
The curricular ensemble offerings at the high school are Concert Band, Chamber Winds, Treble Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Chamber Choir, Grade 9-10 Concert Orchestra, Grade 11-12 Concert Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. As a result of weekly small-group rotational lessons, student musicians have the opportunity to develop and advance their specific musical skills in a semi-private lesson environment. Students enrolling in performance ensembles accept the obligation to attend rotational lessons and participate in all scheduled concerts.
Elective offerings are Music Technology, Performance Technology, Music Theory and AP Music Theory. With the exception of Music Technology, placement in electives is by audition or at the discretion of the ensemble director.
Co-curricular ensembles are Jazz Ensemble and Pep Band. Placement is by audition. Students who play piano, bass and guitar (instruments not commonly found in a school concert band program) are encouraged to audition for the jazz ensemble.
Extra-curricular ensembles open to all FLHS students are Commoners, Foxappella, Jam Club, and Rock Ensemble (by audition).
Fox Lane High School Music Faculty
Michael Groarke – Music Technology, Music Theory & AP Theory – mgroarke0463@bcsdny.org
Dr. Sarah Matthews, Chamber Winds, Concert Band – smatthews1055@bcsdny.org
Kevin Larsen, Chorus - klarsen5268@bcsdny.org
Janine Bergamini, Orchestra – jbergamini4776@bcsdny.org
Michael Piescki, Performance Technology – mpiescki2101@bcsdny.org
Meet the Fox Lane High School Music Faculty
Michael Groarke began his teaching career after working as a recording engineer in NYC. His interest in recording technology as a teaching tool brought him to Fox Lane HS in 1997. Since that time, the Music Technology course has become a popular part of the 9th grade experience. Mr. Groarke also teaches the Introduction to Music Theory and Advanced Placement Music Theory sequence. He remains active as a keyboard player in two bands. Mr. Groarke holds a Masters in Music Education degree from The Hartt School of Music,Hartford University; he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music education from the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College.
Dr. Sarah Matthews teaches band at Fox Lane High School. She earned the Doctor of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy from The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Piano from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She has also taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Manhattanville College, Teachers College/Columbia University, Passaic County Community College, and The Crane School of Music summer youth program. She is the Royal Academy of Dance accompanist at Dance Design School in Cornwall, NY and has performed with the Greater New York Wind Symphony, the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, and is the music director for the Saint Thomas Aquinas College Theater program in Sparkill, NY.
Michael Piescki has worked as a professional musician and a teacher of music in the United States and abroad. He currently teaches electronic music courses and co-runs several rock ensembles and theatrical productions at Fox Lane Middle School and Fox Lane High School. Since 1989, Mike has taught in the New York State Public Schools and prior to that, served as music teacher and cultural arts director at the Edwin Gould Academy UFSD for fifteen years. Mike has had many recording and performance opportunities in Rock, Pop, Jazz and Ethnic genres. Outside of the classroom he is a private drumming instructor and has himself studied drums privately with Gary Chester and Steve Rucker. Mike is the creator, director, and instructor of the Corfu Rock School, a summer music and adventure camp for teens traveling to Corfu, Greece. Mike received his Bachelors Degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance from the University of Miami, School of Music. He earned his Masters Degree in Education at The City College of New York, and, his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration at SUNY New Paltz.
Janine Bergamini is the director of orchestras at the Fox Lane High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. During her education at
Columbia she had the great privilege to study conducting with Dino Anagnost, the former Little Orchestra Society director and conductor. She received her B.A. in Violin Performance studying under the direction of Dr. Carole Cowan. Mrs. Bergamini was previously the director of orchestras in Kingston City Schools from 2009-2019. During her tenure at Kingston High School she accompanied students to All Nationals, All Eastern and All State divisions. Her orchestras have received Gold with Distinction and Superior ratings at the highest level of competition at NYSSMA Majors and various other festivals.
Mrs. Bergamini has been quoted in NAfME’s national publications such as Teaching Music. She has conducted, adjudicated, chaired workshops and festivals including NYSSMA Solo and All County. She has performed as a violinist in the Greater Newburgh Symphony, Northern Dutchess Symphony, Taconic Opera Company, Woodstock Chamber Orchestra and has frequently served as a soloist in concerts and recitals.