Baldwin High School Pep Band Kicks Off Northwell Health’s Nurses Week Celebration

North Shore University Hospital Invites Students to Give an Exclusive Performance

The Baldwin High School Pep Band was recently invited to be part of an exclusive performance at North Shore University Hospital as part of Northwell Health’s Nurses Week Celebration. Megan Stewart, associate volunteer experience program manager, worked with Pat Banhazl, school-to-career coordinator for Baldwin High School, and the directors of bands, Scott Dunn and Deanna Nikirk, to coordinate more than forty students from the Pep Band to welcome the nurses to work through the gift of song!

Lined up at the inside entrance, the student musicians surprised the nurses as they walked into their shift with numerous favorite, upbeat jams. More than fifteen tunes were played, spanning multiple decades, from “YMCA” by the Village People, “Any Way You Want It” by Journey, “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry, to “I Like to Move It” by Real 2 Real, “Push It” by Salt – N – Pepa and “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO.

Hospital leadership, Irene Macyk, North Shore University Hospital Chief Nursing Officer; Tara Laumenede, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer; and Josephine Melchione, Senior Director of Patient Care, were also in attendance to show their appreciation for the dedicated, hard-working staff and to watch the live entertainment.

“The band played great, and we had fun,” said Scott Dunn, Director of Bands. “The nurses seemed to really appreciate it and everybody we worked with at North Shore University Island Hospital was extremely professional and accommodating. Overall, it was truly a wonderful experience for all involved and a special evening for our students and Northwell nurses.”

“We were thrilled to be a part of North Shore University Hospital's Nurses Week Celebration, and to show our gratitude for first responders through music,” added Ms. Nikirk, band director for Baldwin High School. “The collective energy of the hospital staff and administration was contagiously uplifting, and our students had a wonderful time collaborating with them for such a meaningful event.”

North Shore University Hospital was extremely grateful for the Baldwin students and faculty, knowing the amount of rehearsing, time and energy that went into making the nurses feel extra special that evening.  

“Thank you very much for all the effort that was made for this event and thanks to all the students who came and played wonderfully,” said Dr. Macyk in a letter addressed to Ms. Banhazl and Mr. Dunn.   

The Baldwin High School Pep Band consists of student musicians in grades 9 through 12 who are also part of either the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, or both.

The following students performed:

Flute: 
Victor Ajah 
Kayla Anderson 
Jenesis Bristol 
Angelina Feeney 
Grace Kennedy 
Danielle Mardy 
Nyla McDermott 
Giovanni Portalatin 
Samari Walston 

Clarinet: 
Aaron Ashby 
Joseph Gonzalez 
Lindsay Herras 
Matthew Johnson 
Jonathan Mercedes 
Grace Notarstefano 
Megan-Amani Ransom 
Amalia Taveras 

Alto Sax: 
Sara Brion-Fernandez 
Kym Calderon 
Gabrielle Gourgue 
David Orlep 
Ava Reyer 
Matt Torres 

Tenor Saxophone: 
Megan Englehart 

Horn: 
Emely Carrasquillo 

Trumpet: 
Victoria Allen 
Gabriel Conner 
Morgan Martin 
Sean Ramalho 
Bryant Reyes-Alvarez 
Jadeyn Rivera 
Patrick Stuart 

Trombone: 
Daniel Figueroa 
Edmund Lee 
Alexys Mason 
Carlee Melvin 
Claire Notarstefano 
Xavier Panky 
Bianca Samedy 

Tuba: 
Travis Brown 
Christopher Mercedes 

Drumline: 
Connor Carpenter 
Christian Lanoix 
Katherine Romero 
Randy Saint Louis 
Anthony Seneus 
Dean Smith 
Morghan St. Clair