People of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Community often see Tom Gould at many events with camera in hand. Throughout the course of the school year, Gould takes thousands of photographs. During the holiday concerts last year, Gould captured a moment in the fourth-grade concert as Lou Costidis was conducting a candlelit chorus with his arms reaching for the stars. Gould labeled the photo “The Joy of Music” and submitted it to the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA). The photo was recognized with their highest award of “Excellence.”
Monica Lester, contest coordinator for the 2014 NYSPRA Communications Awards and communications specialist for the Capital Region BOCES said, “Of more than 330 entries, judged by communications professionals around the country, about one-third received awards.”
Gould is no stranger to the joy of music, as he has been a musician for most of his life. He believes that his understanding of music made him a better math student in high school. As the advisor of the Media Arts Club at Oyster Bay High School, which hosts the annual student and staff talent and variety show, Gould serves as a mentor for many young musicians in Oyster Bay.
Many of the musicians who pass through the OBEN schools display world-class talents. Currently, OBHS is home to a junior with remarkable abilities. Charlie Dane has been singing and writing her own music since she was 9 years old. Having just turned 16, Dane has already amassed a professional résumé that musicians twice her age would envy. Dane has played the prestigious South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX, as well as being featured at the Mountain Jam Festival, The Bitter End in New York City, the Nassau Coliseum and, of course, the Oyster Fest.
Dane will return to the main stage of the Oyster Fest this year. She will perform songs from her impressive original songbook and a few well-chosen cover tunes at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. Dane has been writing great songs for years and her vocal skills are nothing short of amazing. A visit to her website will be time well spent at www.charliedane.net.
Gianni Paci graduated from Oyster Bay High School in 2010. He attended NYU in Manhattan where he excelled in honors programs and graduated a semester early, thanks to the AP credits he earned while at OBHS. Paci is not only immensely talented in the arts, but is also academically gifted. While at NYU, Paci formed a band called “The Pine Hollows” and wrote and released two CDs. They returned to OBHS to play a benefit concert.
Paci has shared the stage with rock stars like Ace Frehley of Kiss, Steven Adler of Guns N Roses and the late Mike Starr of Alice In Chains. Having performed at music festivals like Austin City Limits in Texas, Zappanale in Germany and Musikfest in Pennsylvania, Paci learned the ropes while in the ring, honing his craft in front of audiences far and wide.
Paci landed on the cover of Performer Magazine and an online feature at Tiger Beat labeled him “The Cutest Boy You’re Not Crushing On Yet.” Mike Ragogna of The Huffington Post likened his songwriting to classic artists like The Rolling Stones. He recently released a music video for his new single, “Long Time.”
You may have seen Paci performing this summer at the Glen Cove Downtown Sounds Festival, opening for Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, Beach Boys) or at the St. Rocco’s Festival in Oyster Bay. He will be performing Nov. 8 at Bar Matchless in New York City at 3 p.m., Nov. 21 at the Oyster Bay Boys & Girls Club and Dec. 12 at the Dolphin Bookshop in Port Washington at 7 p.m.
Get details about his music and shows at giannipaci.com
Gould has been making music for many years. He has been in a band called “The Bossa Nova Beatniks” with OBHS Alum Tim Stapleton. Stapleton graduated from OBHS in 1999. He went on to a successful career working for AIG in Manhattan, which finds him traveling the world. He is married with two young daughters and recently bought a house in Manhassett. As busy as he has become, Stapleton still finds time to make music with Gould and the Bossa Nova Beatniks. Stapleton is featured in the latest single release in which he plays the guitar, conga drums and sings the lead vocal on his own arrangement of a Gould-penned tune, “Any Road.” The recording also features the bass playing of Bakithi Kumalo of South Africa. Kumalo is best known for playing the bass on Paul Simon’s Graceland album.
Bakithi will be playing at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 18 with Paul Simon and will be heading to New Zealand and Australia in January with Sting and Paul Simon.
These three OBHS musicians’ stories only scratch the surface of the wealth of talent in and around Oyster Bay–East Norwich. Watch for the OBHS Talent Show/International Night on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015.
