Trumpet Trio Plays Buglers Holiday



Schmitt Family Trumpeters with Band Director John Lusk

 Joseph LaRuffa was the Band Director at the Fallsburg High School for many years. One of his students in the 1960's was a quiet young fellow named, Ken Schmitt, who played Trumpet. When Mr LaRuffa took his high school band group to NYSSMA Festival (NYS School Music Association) for Adjudication in 1968, with Ken playing 1st Trumpet in a complex piece called "Bugler's Holiday", the band received a score of "A" with Gary Lederman and Tim Hanofee, rounding out the trio.

Time marched on as it does, and the new Music Director at Fallsburg High School is a dedicated teacher, named John Lusk, who has been a teacher here of our young musicians for nearly 25 years now. Two of his students in his band this year who play trumpet are brother & sister, Aaron and Rachel Schmitt, the children of Ken. Mr Lusk knew of the Schmitt family trumpet tradition and had a very exciting idea he wanted to try out before Aaron graduates this June. Mr Lusk invited the three Schmitt musicians to perform the trumpet trio portion of "Bugler's Holiday" at the upcoming Pops Concert this Tuesday evening. The Pops Concert is traditionally a very enjoyable concert with performances of popular music by the High School Band and Ms Colleen Barber's Chamber Chorus. The Schmitt Family Trumpet Trio has been practicing regularly together and is looking forward to joining the full band for this unique perfomance in the high school auditorium on Tuesday night.