Student musicians to show their talents on big stages

East Meadow High pianist and Clarke opera singer share a love of performing

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The East Meadow School District’s music program will be well represented across the country in the coming months, as two students with very different musical backgrounds will showcase their talents on grand stages.

Elton Ha, a pianist and a senior at East Meadow High School, will play with the All-National Honor Ensemble’s Symphony Orchestra at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at the end of this month. In January he will head to the Alamodome in San Antonio to play in the United States Army All-American Marching Band at halftime of the All-American Bowl, which features the top high school football players in the country.

Juliet Rafanelli, a senior at W.T. Clarke High School who is a member of the chorus and also sings opera, will perform next February in the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division Conference in Boston, a convention that brings together student musicians from across the region.

Though they attend different high schools and study different musical disciplines, Ha and Rafanelli, who auditioned for their upcoming performances, spoke proudly of their progression from novices to masters of their craft, under the tutelage of teachers in East Meadow’s award-winning music program.

“I am extremely proud of Juliet and Elton for their acceptance into these prestigious honors ensembles, and thrilled that their hard work has been recognized by national associations,” said Kati Behr, the district’s director of music and art.

Elton Ha, at home at the keyboard


A man of few words who lets his musical ability speak for itself, Ha said he treats every performance as if he’s at home, playing his own piano for fun. The 17-year-old, who described himself as laid back, said the strategy helps him relax on stage.

But wherever he is playing, he said, his goal is to transmit the music’s desired sentiment. He’s particularly fond of the Romantic period, which began in Europe toward the end of the 18th century. “The music during that period is really impacted by emotion,” he said. “You express your feelings.”

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