About Us

Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts is a non-profit organization which was founded in 1994 in order to provide talented student musicians from across Long Island and the metropolitan area with additional rehearsal and performance opportunities in the jazz and concert band genres. We are committed to offering our members a high quality educational and performance-based program that will provide enriching experiences and memories that will foster a lifetime love of music.

Members of Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts receive instruction and coaching from numerous music educators, active performers and composers. Guest artists have included Stanley and Naomi Drucker, John Fedchock, Jeff Jarvis, Glen Drewes, Claudia Martin, Stephen Melillo, Jack Schatz, Carl Strommen, Dave Pietro, Leon Petruzzi, Jim Snidero, Lew Tabackin, Joseph Alessi, Phil Smith, Eric Ralske, Patrick Sheridan, Mike Richardson, Ralph Lalama, Walt Weiskopf, Joe Magnarelli, Scott Wendholt, Carol Wincenc, Conrad Herwig, Jonathan Katz, Gary Smulyan, Extension Ensemble, John Marshall, Steven Blutman, Michael Blutman, Tom Brechtlein, Julian Rose and Anthony Maiello.

In December of 2009, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble performed at the NYSSMA Winter Conference held in Rochester, New York. In March of 2007, both our Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble performed at the MENC Eastern Division Conference in Hartford, Connecticut. We were delighted to be selected again after performing at the MENC Eastern Division Conference when it was held in New York City in 1999. In 2000, the Wind Symphony performed at MENC's 57th Biennial Conference in Washington, D.C. Other memorable performances were the Wind Symphony's park concert for the Town of Oyster Bay's "Music Under The Stars" series, and the Jazz Ensemble's performance at Tilles Center with the New Jersey Tap Ensemble in "This Joint Is Jumpin'". Members of Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts have had three successful tours of the Hawaiian Islands.

Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts is comprised of students who represent over fifty Long Island school districts and range from grades five through twelve. Our program includes seven student performing groups and an Alumni Band. Members of the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Honor Band, Youth Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band and Youth Jazz Band are selected by audition in May and June.

We would like to thank and acknowledge the Music Educators of Long Island who have supported our program and have shared their students with us. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with these talented young musicians, many of whom go on to become music educators themselves.

Executive Director
Steven Behr

Director of Operations
Zachary deVries