We Are Instrumental NY

10/21/2026

Represented: AuSable, Beekmantown Cambridge, Crown Point, Ft. Edward, Keene, Moriah, Newcomb, North Warren, Peru, Plattsburgh, Saranac, Ticonderoga
Willsboro, Skidmore, Crane, University of Maine, Montclair, Harmony Explosion, All Ears Jazz, for flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, mallets, drum set, French horn, trombone, low bass, rock band, voice, and more!

10/19/2026

Music position opening! Apply and/or spread the word!

🦅Open Positions - Beekmantown CSD🦅
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
📌Associate Principal (Grades 6-8)
📌Automotive Mechanic Helper
📌Bus Drivers
📌Itinerant Special Education Teachers & Related Service Providers
📌Music Teacher
📌Permanent Building Substitute Teachers
📌School Counselor
📌Teacher Aide/Student Aides
📌We also have instructional and non-instructional substitute positions available!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‼️Please click the link below to apply‼️
www.bcsdk12.org/district/employment

If you have any questions, please contact Victoria LaVarnway at [email protected]

10/14/2026

Our 2026 Music Summit is coming up THIS SATURDAY 10/17🎶

We wanted to highlight students from last year’s summit to showcase what gets students about our music summit! 🎺

With your continued support, we can continue to help students flourish within music education! If you wish to support the music summit, you can become a monthly donor and help fund WAI initiatives and events such as the music summit!
https://www.weareinstrumentalny.org/donate

10/13/2026

In our series “Why we Educate” highlighting music educators, today we are recognizing Ms. Vickie Henson! 🎶

Vickie Henson is a band director, conductor, and percussionist. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, and a Master's Degree from Stony Brook University. In 2023, Vickie was recognized by the Association of Concert Bands with the Herbert L. & Jean Schultz Mentor Ideal Award which recognizes teachers who have inspired their students to achieve success as outstanding concert band musicians.

​Vickie recently completed her 34th and final year as a music teacher in the Elwood Union Free School District at John Glenn High School. Her time was spent teaching her students to love music, and to be a part of the bigger picture in their community. Her responsibilities included Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band and AP Music Theory.

Ms. Henon is now the assistant conductor of the Huntington Community Band. In addition to this role, she is also an Adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College where she teaches and runs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble.

10/12/2026

We Are Instrumental is creating change by providing students with access to musical instruments, fostering educational opportunities, and supporting music programs in underserved communities. 🎵

We do this through several of our programs such as instrument donation, lesson programs, the golden opportunity fund, enrichment opportunities, and professional development courses, improving accessibility in music education. You can visit our website to learn more about our initiatives!🎶
https://www.weareinstrumentalny.org/instrumental-initiatives-northern-new-york-1-2

With your continued support, we can continue to help students flourish within music education! If you wish to support WAI’s initiatives, you can become a monthly donor and help fund WAI initiatives and events!
https://www.weareinstrumentalny.org/donate

10/10/2026

The 2026 Music Summit is ONE WEEK AWAY!!

We’re counting down the days until the WAI Music Summit! From hands-on workshops to incredible performances and new connections, there’s so much to look forward to.

We are so excited to welcome our clinicians and students! 🎵🎺
Tell us in the comments: What are you MOST excited about this year?

10/09/2026

Say hello to some of our incredible 2026 Music Summit Clinicians!!🎼
With these talented musicians joining us, they are bringing their skills, energy, and intellect to inspire students at this year’s music summit! 🎶

10/06/2026

Continuing our “Why we Educate” series, WAI wants to introduce Dr. Chrsitine Hoerning!

Dr. Hoerning is an accomplished clarinetist, director, teacher, and creator across a multitude of genres. A New York native now based in Montreal, she fills clarinet positions in numerous orchestras throughout NY and Quebec, including principal clarinet of l'orchestre philharmonique de musiciens de Montreal. Christine is the founder and artistic director of the interdisciplinary chamber music collective Verisimo, which has performed throughout Quebec, Ontario, and New York.

Dr. Hoerning has been a part of WAI serving as a board member and as a clinician in previous music summits. She will be a clinician once again in our 2026 Music Summit!

Thank you once again to Dr. Hoerning and follow us to hear more about music educators and the importance of music education!

10/05/2026

Alex is a clarinetist and emerging composer who actively seeks out new musical challenges. Since beginning band and chorus in fifth grade, he has pursued honor ensembles, NYSSMA, community band, and increasingly advanced repertoire. He also began composing in 2026, drawing inspiration from classical, Romantic, neoclassical, and film music. 🎼

Through WAI’s Golden Opportunity Fund, Alex will receive 30 Private lessons with a professional tutor. If you want to learn more about our Golden Opportunity Fund and hear about how we support our students in music, go here to learn more!
https://www.weareinstrumentalny.org/golden-opportunity-fund

Do you want to help more students like Alex be empowered through music? Consider becoming a donor and help support students’ musical growth and give them musical resources they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
https://www.weareinstrumentalny.org/donate

10/04/2026

Swinging into Fall!
Last weekend at the fall festival, one very loved (and very unrepairable) piano got the send-off of its lifetime! 💥

Before the first swing, WAI Executive Director Evan Mack gave the piano a proper farewell speech. Then, for every donation made, festival-goers got their chance to take a swing and help give this instrument one final encore.

And the best part? We raised over $300 to support music education!

But we didn’t want this piano to simply disappear. Students, teachers, volenteers and other festival participants collected pieces of the instrument and brought them back to our WAI table, where they could turn them into a special art keepsake. This way, they could bring home a little piece of a piano that had already given so much.

One piano. One unforgettable farewell. $300+ for music education. And a whole lot of memories were made along the way.

Thank you to everyone who donated, smashed, created, and celebrated with us!