Mineola, the village of champions.
Wednesday night saw village, town and elected officials congratulate the Mineola Marching Band for taking home the No. 1 spot in New York earlier this year.
On Oct. 30, the band capped off an undefeated run and scored their highest rating of the season for their performance, “The Scarlet Bandit,” at the New York State Field Band Conference in Syracuse.
Mineola received a 93.675 rating for the top spot in Small School Division 1, just ahead of New Hartford, which received a 93.150 rating.
The win is Mineola’s third championship in five years, with two Division 2 titles racked up in 2018 and 2019.
“To see our name, our high school and our community on this trophy that has traveled the state and will do so in the future, knowing our name will be etched there forever is priceless,” Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira said. “This is really something worthy of recognition.”
The marching band is made up of eighth through 12th graders and is led by band director Chris Toomey, who first started in 2016 and has seen the program grow from 74 to 135 students.
“Coming in 1st place @NYSFieldBand has been a crowning achievement for our band, but moments like this town hall meeting remind us all of the bigger picture – work hard, make lifelong friendships along the way, be kind, and enjoy the memories. #MineolaProud @MineolaFineArts” Toomey tweeted following the meeting.
Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar, North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Councilman Dennis Walsh, state Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) and Nassau County Presiding Officer Rich Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) were on hand to share their congratulations with the students, who represented Williston Park and Mineola almost evenly.
“Congratulations on a great achievement. It’s nice to hear that you were successful in Division 2 and continued that after moving up,” Ehrbar said. “Maybe we’ll be back next year.”
Each official presented the band with a certificate of achievement from their respective governments on top of the village presenting a large street sign for the school “so when people walk in they know they’re entering the home of champions” Pereira said.
“Whether it is the marching band or an athletic team or individual doing any of the great things that we do in the district, it’s a source of pride for us because we know all the hard work you do to get it done,” the mayor said.