NBHS Student Plays His Way to Carnegie Hall and Europe
As a junior at North Babylon High School, Derrick Williams' love for music will soon lead him to perform at Carnegie Hall and all over Europe. Derrick Williams is a percussionist and valued member of the High School Concert and Marching Bands. His passion for music led him last Spring to audition for The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra's Suffolk County Principal Orchestra and out of a very talented field of All-County and All-State level Long Island musicians, he was selected to become a member of this elite group.
Every Thursday, Derrick rehearses with the Orchestra who are all Level 5 and 6 NYSSMA musicians at Sachem East High School in Farmingville for 2 1/2 hours from September to June, in addition to all the rehearsals he has at the high school. But the hard work has paid off because on June 5th he will play with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra's Suffolk County Principal Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Then in July as part of the combined Nassau and Suffolk County groups, he will embark on a European Tour and will play festivals in Poland, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic.
According to North Babylon High School Band Director Frank Rizzo, "Derrick is an amazing musician with a gift of pure natural talent. He's one of those drummers that just can't sit still. I am especially proud of him because I had the opportunity of teaching his mom, Denise Leary, my first year in North Babylon, way back in 1981." In addition to encouragement from his mother, Derrick attributes his success to North Babylon's rigorous music program and the variety of quality performances he has participated in since he was at Parliament Place Elementary School.