The Central Islip School District has been named one of the best communities in the country for music education for the second consecutive year.
The NAMM Foundation recognized Central Islip as one of 935 communities in the country with this distinction.
Central Islip High School music teacher John Anthony says the dedication from the students and their parents is a major contribution to their success.
"It takes a lot of dedication and they need to want to do it,” he said. “Because they do, we're able to get to a musical level that's really quite high."
For Central Islip High School senior Indigo Ho Sang, the program has a special place in her heart.
"I deal with anxiety,” she said. “When it's a bad day, choir is the only thing that keeps me going."
From kindergarten to high school, the district's music education program has allowed for students to perform at Disney World, St. Patrick's Cathedral and even at the White House.
Central Islip School District Music Education and Technology Director Philip Voigt says a musical education is vital for students, even if they don’t become musicians once they graduate.
"Music just transcends its original boundaries,” he said. “We're teaching kids to be citizens, we're teaching them to work together, sequential thinking is extremely important in music."
Central Islip High School senior Karen Booker says the music department helped her break out of her shell.
"I came into high school very shy,” she said. "It opened me up and opened my palate to everybody."
Students say it's the example of hard work set by their teachers that helps them hit all the right notes inside and outside the classroom.
"I'm so lucky and grateful to have a class where it's not just choir, we're not just singing, but I'm learning how to navigate the real world,” said Ho Sang.
