A trio of Wantagh High School musicians have been selected to participate in the 17th annual LIU Post Band Festival at the Tilles Center in April. Michael Muscarnera, Brendan O’Callaghan and Olivia Scherer will be among 128 student-musicians to join the 2025 Tilles Festival Band.

The students were selected from approximately 220 nominees from across Long Island. They were nominated by Wantagh band director, Danilo Aviles.

“Michael, Brendan and Olivia are three of our top student musicians,” Mr. Aviles said. “They are not only remarkable instrumentalists, but they are also great people. Their appetite for music is tremendous and their daily contributions as band students are plentiful.”

The three musicians are highly accomplished in music. Collectively, they represent numerous school musical groups including the brass, concert, jazz and marching bands, pit orchestra, jazz ensemble and wind ensemble. Michael is president of the Wantagh band, with Brendan serving as vice president and Olivia as secretary. Outside of school, Michael and Olivia play with the Five Towns College Wind Ensemble and Olivia is also in the Long Island Youth Orchestra. Brendan and Michael were 2025 All-County music festival sections.

For the upcoming Tilles Festival Band, Michael will play the bass clarinet, but he is proficient in several instruments including the horn and saxophone. Brendan will perform on the trumpet and Olivia will be in the flute section. She also plays piccolo and saxophone.

At the festival, the students will be led by guest conductor and composer-in-resident Randall Standridge. Songs they will perform include Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Mark Camphouse’s “A Dakota Rhapsody” and Standridge’s own pieces, “Galop Festivo” and “Utopia.”

“There was no hesitation when nominating Michael, Brendan and Olivia for this great opportunity as they have had a tremendous resume of musical accomplishments both through the Wantagh Band program and other high-level ensembles throughout the county,” Mr. Aviles added. “Performing under the baton of the world-renowned composer and conductor Randall D. Standridge will be yet another incredible experience to add to their resume. I'm truly excited for them.