Tarmac Online

By Charles Cozeolino ‘28

While some might say that Chaminade High School is defined by the roar of the fields or the silence of the library, a different kind of sound thrives in the school’s music corridor. To the casual watcher, the String Orchestra is a group of students performing at a concert. But behind the curtain lies an operation of logistics, history, and discipline. 

Nobody knows the Chaminade Music & Arts Program better than Mrs. Sally Zehnter: Director of Performing Arts, Director of the Orchestra, and teacher of multiple fine arts classes. Throughout this article, you will read not only the facts about the Chaminade Music and Arts Program, but also the experiences of Zehnter and her history in Chaminade’s halls.

Every day during the 3A half-block, Orchestra engages in a “tactical strike” method of practice. With only 35 minutes to work with, there is no room for a slow start. This attitude of efficiency is not new; it is rooted in the program’s origins.

“When we started the orchestra back in 1998, we rehearsed in the small gym every day,” Zehnter recalls. “We had to get out a rack of chairs, set them up, bring music stands from the back of the gym…and then put it all away at the end of the period! And yet we still managed to perform complex and challenging works.”

Today, that same spirit remains. The 3A rehearsal is about more than just notes being played—it is about mapping out a trimester’s worth of needs, from Grandparents Mass to Open House, while ensuring every student feels like a vital part of the team. “No one ever sits there thinking their contribution doesn’t matter,” Zehnter says. “Every member of the group is a vital part of the team.”

If the 3A rehearsal is the “team practice,” then weekly private lessons are the “weight room.” Chaminade students are in the unique position of working with an elite roster of professional musicians who have played at the highest levels. These teachers not only pass on their skills, but also years worth of knowledge to the future generation of musicians. 

“The one-on-one lesson time is invaluable,” Zehnter explains. “Our incredibly-skilled professional instructors are able to work on the musical repertoire while also honing in on each student’s needs.”

These sessions prepare students for elite recognition at NYSSMA, All-County, and All-State festivals. In a world where high-level performance is expected, these lessons provide the practice and prestige that make a student stand out not just in the music wing, but also in the eyes of college recruiters who are crying out for dedicated musicians.

The “golden child” of the Chaminade music experience is the Symphony Orchestra—the moment the String Orchestra joins forces with members of the Gold Band. Zehnter describes this as the highest level of musical accomplishment, quoting the classic wisdom of Aristotle: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” 

This merger is particularly significant in 2026. The music world is still recovering from the effects of COVID-19, which shut down thousands of grade school music programs years ago. “Our current seniors were in 6th grade when COVID shut everything down,” Zehnter notes. “We are only now seeing our numbers start to come back from that cancellation.”

Outside of the artistic achievement of music, there is a biological advantage to hours spent in Chaminade’s music program. Many studies, including some from the American Psychological Association, state that playing an instrument is like a “full body workout for the brain.” Engaging with music is one of few activities that activates all parts of the brain, giving extreme health benefits to the Chaminade man. Music allows for “neuro-discipline,” a method of controlling the cortisol levels of the body, which is crucial for high school students. This conditioning creates a sharper mental focus, tying into every other part of a Flyer’s life.   

Most people believe that a musician is “one who plays an instrument”; this assumption, however, is highly false. A musician, by definition, is someone who “composes, conducts, or performs music,” which significantly broadens the title of musician. In a close reading of that definition, the word “or” stands out significantly. Some believe that they will never get to be a musician or chase their dreams due to musical illiteracy or, simply, lacking the time to learn an instrument. But at Chaminade, musicians are not just the performers in the Band or Orchestra, but also the members of the student body themselves. The slightest tweak of a note in a fine arts class, or doing homework in more focused classes such as AP Music Theory I and II, makes you a “musician”—even if you never play an instrument. The benefits of a musical mindset can therefore not only help the members of the Chaminade Orchestra, Band, or Chorus, but every student here at Chaminade. 

So, when the trombones finally join the cellos, or a drum set adds a layer of modern rock to a classical arrangement, the result is a “fabulous symphonic moment.” It is the final proof that months of practice and half-block rehearsals serve a much larger, more powerful purpose.