The Bethpage Union Free School District welcomes Mr. Brent Chiarello as the Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the 2024-2025 school year.
Mr. Chiarello was the director of the Rutgers University Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble and associate director of the Five Towns College Wind Ensemble before beginning his career in public education in the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District. During his time in Cold Spring Harbor, Mr. Chiarello taught elementary, junior high and high school band and directed the symphony orchestra, pit orchestra and jazz ensemble. For the past nine years, Mr. Chiarello has served as the part-time chairperson for the music department at Lloyd Harbor School, as well as assuming the role of part-time Assistant to the Principal for the past two school years.
Mr. Chiarello earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase College and a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University before completing his NYS Teaching Certification at Five Towns College. Mr. Chiarello also holds an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Long Island University.
As a professional musician, Mr. Chiarello is a member of the Dave Lalama Jazz Orchestra, the Interplay Jazz Orchestra and was the trombonist for the show band on board the Queen Elizabeth II Ocean Liner’s final 40th Anniversary tour. He has also performed and recorded with various artists including The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Gotham Wind Symphony, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Rivera, Todd Coolman, John Reilly, Ray Vega, Pete McGuinness, Ralph Lalama and John Mosca. Mr. Chiarello is the house trombonist at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport as well as the Argyle Theater in Babylon and has performed in several productions on Broadway.
The Bethpage Union Free School District looks forward to having Mr. Chiarello on board for the 2024-25 school year.