Music Educators from Singapore Attend Summit at C.W. Post

On October 30, 2007 the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University hosted a Music Education Summit Meeting with members of the Music Branch of Singapore’s Ministry of Education. The panel from Singapore was in the United States for one week to study philosophies and practices of the American Music Education System.

The group spent several days in Virginia and then the balance of their week in New York. While on Long Island they enjoyed a morning with the award-winning East Meadow School District Music Faculty, getting a first-hand look at their program in action. The Singaporean Panel then came to the C.W. Post Campus in Brookville, N.Y. to participate in a summit meeting with members of the C.W. Post music faculty and other leading music educators from Long Island.

"The Singaporeans are looking to more closely model their approach to music education based on the approach used in the United States," said C.W. Post music faculty member Dr. James McRoy. Dr. McRoy organized the summit meeting after having spent a week in Singapore this past August as a keynote speaker and presenter at the country’s Band Conference. "Singapore would like to bring their ensembles program (band, chorus, and orchestra) into the regular school day curriculum in line with the American model," said Dr. McRoy. "They are also interested in establishing partnerships with individuals and organizations outside Singapore that will support the nurturing and cultivation of the future artistic leaders of the Singapore performing arts scene."

The summit was held under the auspices of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Rhoda Grauer, Dean and Stephanie Watt, Department of Music Chair.

Members of the New York panel included:

• James Cassara (Former Director of Fine Arts - Northport School District, President - NY State School Music Association)
• Alexander Dashnaw (C.W. Post Director of Choral Activities, Past President - American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division)
• Danielle McRoy (Choral Director, Classroom Music Teacher, Music Chairperson - The Mary Louis Academy (HS), Long Island Representative - NY Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association)
• Dr. James McRoy (C.W. Post Director of Bands, Past President - NY State Band Directors Association)
• Dr. Jennifer Miceli (C.W. Post Director of Music Education, Gordon Music Learning Theory Specialist)
• Joseph Pergola (Director of Fine Arts, William Floyd School District)
• Anthony Pinelli (High School Orchestra Director - Port Washington, President - NY Chapter of the American String Teachers Association)
• Joseph Sugar (C.W. Post Music Education Faculty, Former Director of Music - Hewlett School District, Past President - NY State School Music Association and NY State Council of Administrators of Music Education)

Members of the Singapore panel included:

• Sum Chee Wah (Director, Education Programs Division)
• Tan Wie Pin (Assistant Director, Co-Curricular Activities - Music)
• Dr. Lee Kok Sonk (Head of Talent Development)
• Hoo Cher Like (Co-Curricular Activities Music Officer)
• Rachel Ee (Co-Curricular Activities Music Officer)
• Wang Siao Hua (Co-Curricular Activities Music Officer)

Front Row: Dr. Jennifer Miceli, Anthony Pinelli, Stephanie Watt, Sum Chee Wah, Rachel Ee, Danielle McRoy, Hoo Cher Like; Second Row: Jon Fraser, Rhoda Grauer, Tan Wie Pin, Dr. James McRoy, Dr. Lee Kok Sonk, Dr. Yen Yen Joyceln Woo; Third Row: Joseph Sugar, Joseph Pergola, Alexander Dashnaw, Wang Siao Hua, James Cassara

Posted: November 1, 2007