Our Directors
Rufus E. Kern (Founder): 1946-1970
Rufus E. Kern, Jr. (1914-1997) founded the Huntington Community Band a year following the end of World War II in the summer of 1946. Kern taught instrumental music in the Huntington schools beginning in 1942 and later also served as the Huntington schools Director of Music from 1955 up to his retirement from teaching in 1971.
Kern led the Huntington Community Band for 25 years from 1946 to 1971 making it one of only a handful of community bands here on Long Island at the time. Over the years the Huntington Band grew in notoriety and popularity as Kern was recognized as a driving force in Huntington’s musical life. He was also a co-founder of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and the Huntington Men’s Chorus. In addition, Kern was the choir director at the Huntington Central Presbyterian Church for 10 years. He was an active founding member of the Huntington Arts Council and responsible for organizing numerous cultural arts opportunities in the Huntington community over the years. We remember the many contributions that Rufus Kern made to the musical life of the Town of Huntington: as a music educator and educational leader in our schools; through the fellowship of music in worship here in the Huntington community; and, through the Huntington Community Band: an institution now approaching it’s 75th anniversary thanks to the vision Rufus E. Kern, Jr. had back in 1946.
Rufus E. Kern, Jr. (1914-1997) founded the Huntington Community Band a year following the end of World War II in the summer of 1946. Kern taught instrumental music in the Huntington schools beginning in 1942 and later also served as the Huntington schools Director of Music from 1955 up to his retirement from teaching in 1971.
Kern led the Huntington Community Band for 25 years from 1946 to 1971 making it one of only a handful of community bands here on Long Island at the time. Over the years the Huntington Band grew in notoriety and popularity as Kern was recognized as a driving force in Huntington’s musical life. He was also a co-founder of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and the Huntington Men’s Chorus. In addition, Kern was the choir director at the Huntington Central Presbyterian Church for 10 years. He was an active founding member of the Huntington Arts Council and responsible for organizing numerous cultural arts opportunities in the Huntington community over the years. We remember the many contributions that Rufus Kern made to the musical life of the Town of Huntington: as a music educator and educational leader in our schools; through the fellowship of music in worship here in the Huntington community; and, through the Huntington Community Band: an institution now approaching it’s 75th anniversary thanks to the vision Rufus E. Kern, Jr. had back in 1946.
Dr. William E. Baker: 1971-1988
William (“Bill”) E. Baker was a native New Yorker, who began as a trumpet player and played at such venues as The Roxy Theatre and The Palace in New York City. While he served in the Marine Corps during WWII, he played with the Bob Crosby orchestra which included such notable performers as guitarist Al Caiola among others. Later he toured with Danny Kay and his orchestra.
While playing at the theaters in the city, he continued his education at Columbia University. Upon graduating, he became an instrumental teacher in the Huntington school district. In 1970, he earned his Doctorate Degree at Columbia University, and in 1971 became the Director of Music for the district. During his years as the director of music, he made it a point to make the Huntington Marching Band one of the finest in the country. They even performed at the Rose Bowl in California. And, under his directorship, the Huntington School Choirs made several tours of Europe during the summers of 1975, 1976 and 1977. He was also personally honored by the United States Marine Corps, of which he was a alumni, as the Marine Corps Band performed one of his own compositions in 1981.
He assumed the position of Director for the Huntington Community Band, a position which he held and loved from 1971until 1988. Among his other duties as director, he often composed new music generally honoring a local business which sponsored the band.
William (“Bill”) E. Baker was a native New Yorker, who began as a trumpet player and played at such venues as The Roxy Theatre and The Palace in New York City. While he served in the Marine Corps during WWII, he played with the Bob Crosby orchestra which included such notable performers as guitarist Al Caiola among others. Later he toured with Danny Kay and his orchestra.
While playing at the theaters in the city, he continued his education at Columbia University. Upon graduating, he became an instrumental teacher in the Huntington school district. In 1970, he earned his Doctorate Degree at Columbia University, and in 1971 became the Director of Music for the district. During his years as the director of music, he made it a point to make the Huntington Marching Band one of the finest in the country. They even performed at the Rose Bowl in California. And, under his directorship, the Huntington School Choirs made several tours of Europe during the summers of 1975, 1976 and 1977. He was also personally honored by the United States Marine Corps, of which he was a alumni, as the Marine Corps Band performed one of his own compositions in 1981.
He assumed the position of Director for the Huntington Community Band, a position which he held and loved from 1971until 1988. Among his other duties as director, he often composed new music generally honoring a local business which sponsored the band.
Robert V. Domencetti: 1989-2003
Bob is a native Ohioan and a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and Kent State University. He studied with conducting legends William Revelli, Fredrick Fennell, Frank Battisti, Fredrick Ebbs and Kenneth Snapp. During his 14 years of teaching in Ohio, his bands consistently received the state's highest ratings, honored as the "Ohio Band of the Year" and invited to tour Mexico.
Mr. Domencetti retired from the Harborfields Schools in June, 2000, where he was District Director of Music and Conductor of the High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. He has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Queens College (Aaron Copland School of Music), is a Past President of SCMEA and NYSCAME-Suffolk (New York State Council of Administrators in Music Education) and a former Suffolk County (Zone 14) Representative to NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association).
Domencetti guest conducted many Nassau and Suffolk All-County Bands, the North Fork, Mid-Island and Hampton Music Festival Bands, the Nassau Pops Orchestra and, annually, the Northport Community Band. Robert Domencetti has been honored as an "Outstanding Music Alumnus" at Baldwin-Wallace College (Conservatory of Music Achievement Awards, class of 1959) and has performed onstage in 20 musicals.
Bob is a native Ohioan and a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College and Kent State University. He studied with conducting legends William Revelli, Fredrick Fennell, Frank Battisti, Fredrick Ebbs and Kenneth Snapp. During his 14 years of teaching in Ohio, his bands consistently received the state's highest ratings, honored as the "Ohio Band of the Year" and invited to tour Mexico.
Mr. Domencetti retired from the Harborfields Schools in June, 2000, where he was District Director of Music and Conductor of the High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. He has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Queens College (Aaron Copland School of Music), is a Past President of SCMEA and NYSCAME-Suffolk (New York State Council of Administrators in Music Education) and a former Suffolk County (Zone 14) Representative to NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association).
Domencetti guest conducted many Nassau and Suffolk All-County Bands, the North Fork, Mid-Island and Hampton Music Festival Bands, the Nassau Pops Orchestra and, annually, the Northport Community Band. Robert Domencetti has been honored as an "Outstanding Music Alumnus" at Baldwin-Wallace College (Conservatory of Music Achievement Awards, class of 1959) and has performed onstage in 20 musicals.
Thomas N. Gellert: 2004-Present
Thomas N. Gellert has been the Conductor and Music Director of the Huntington Community Band since 2004. He is the 4th director of the HCB following in the footsteps of HCB founding director Rufus Kern (who founded the HCB in 1946), William Baker and Robert Domencetti. Tom joined the HCB in 1973 as a member of the horn section. Under his direction, the HCB has continued a rich tradition as one of Long Island’s finest concert and community bands entertaining thousands during its annual 5-week summer season performing as a part of the Huntington Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival held in Heckscher Park’s Harry Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington, New York
Mr. Gellert graduated from the Manhattan School of Music. His horn teachers included Ralph Froelich, Arthur Berv and Joel Winter. His primary conducting studies were with George Manahan in addition to noted conducting teacher, Elizabeth A.H. Green. Holding degrees in both music performance and music education, Tom recently retired from a long career as a high school band director and then public school music administrator. During his tenure as a band director his concert and jazz bands routinely received superior ratings at music festivals in the Northeast. In addition, Gellert’s bands traveled and performed extensively on concert tours of the Eastern U.S., Canada and twice to Great Britain, Italy and Austria under his baton. As a public school arts program administrator holding a C.A.S./P.D. in school district administration from NYU, Gellert helped to build a nationally recognized music and visual arts program.
In 1994, Tom Gellert became the managing state editor for the New York State School Music Association (a position he holds to this day). During his tenure as NYSSMA editor, Tom has brought the NYSSMA School Music NEWS magazine to national prominence as one of the most widely read and circulated professional state music education journals in the U.S. He has lectured and presented clinics and workshops at the local, regional, state and national levels in addition to giving presentations to music students at the Eastman School of Music, New York University, Hofstra University, Long Island University and Hunter College. Gellert’s former students may be found among the ranks of some of the top professional and military performing groups in the nation in addition to numerous students who have dedicated themselves to a career as music educators.
Tom Gellert is in demand as a guest conductor and also serves as a NYSSMA All-State Brass and Major Organization adjudicator. He maintains an active private horn studio and continues to perform in the metropolitan area as an orchestral horn player / chamber music performer.
Thomas N. Gellert has been the Conductor and Music Director of the Huntington Community Band since 2004. He is the 4th director of the HCB following in the footsteps of HCB founding director Rufus Kern (who founded the HCB in 1946), William Baker and Robert Domencetti. Tom joined the HCB in 1973 as a member of the horn section. Under his direction, the HCB has continued a rich tradition as one of Long Island’s finest concert and community bands entertaining thousands during its annual 5-week summer season performing as a part of the Huntington Arts Council’s Summer Arts Festival held in Heckscher Park’s Harry Chapin Rainbow Stage in Huntington, New York
Mr. Gellert graduated from the Manhattan School of Music. His horn teachers included Ralph Froelich, Arthur Berv and Joel Winter. His primary conducting studies were with George Manahan in addition to noted conducting teacher, Elizabeth A.H. Green. Holding degrees in both music performance and music education, Tom recently retired from a long career as a high school band director and then public school music administrator. During his tenure as a band director his concert and jazz bands routinely received superior ratings at music festivals in the Northeast. In addition, Gellert’s bands traveled and performed extensively on concert tours of the Eastern U.S., Canada and twice to Great Britain, Italy and Austria under his baton. As a public school arts program administrator holding a C.A.S./P.D. in school district administration from NYU, Gellert helped to build a nationally recognized music and visual arts program.
In 1994, Tom Gellert became the managing state editor for the New York State School Music Association (a position he holds to this day). During his tenure as NYSSMA editor, Tom has brought the NYSSMA School Music NEWS magazine to national prominence as one of the most widely read and circulated professional state music education journals in the U.S. He has lectured and presented clinics and workshops at the local, regional, state and national levels in addition to giving presentations to music students at the Eastman School of Music, New York University, Hofstra University, Long Island University and Hunter College. Gellert’s former students may be found among the ranks of some of the top professional and military performing groups in the nation in addition to numerous students who have dedicated themselves to a career as music educators.
Tom Gellert is in demand as a guest conductor and also serves as a NYSSMA All-State Brass and Major Organization adjudicator. He maintains an active private horn studio and continues to perform in the metropolitan area as an orchestral horn player / chamber music performer.