Mr. Sanford Sardo
Director of Choral Activities- Email
Mr. Sardo has been the Director of the Calhoun Choral Program since 1993. Mr. Sardo received his BA in Vocal Performance from the State University of New York @ Stony Brook, where he studied choral conducting with Dr. Timothy Mount. He received his MEd in Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music @ Queens College, where he studied with Dr. Lawrence Eisman and the late Dr. David Walker (Silver/Burdett/Ginn). He is certified in Orff Level I and Music Technology from Hofstra University.
Mr. Sardo was listed in Who's Who in America in 2002 and 2003, and he has been listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers on six occasions. He was named Educator of the Week in April 2004 by The New York Lottery and WLNY/TV 55. He was named Music Educator of the Year by the Long Island Musicians Association in 1995.
Mr. Sardo has been honored by the Nassau County Legislature, the Town of Hempstead, the Merrick Kiwanis, the Merrick Chamber of Commerce and the Bellmore-Merrick Council of PTAs for his passion of shaping young minds and his contributions to the Bellmore-Merrick Community.
Mr. Sardo was a member of the 2004 Bellmore-Merrick District Committee on Promoting Character, Civility, and Social Responsibility, and he is proud to have been selected to have his name listed on the Civil Rights Memorial Center’s ‘Wall of Tolerance’ in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2010, Mr. Sardo was honored with a "Leading Educator Award" from the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, where he serves as a member of the New York Advisory Board for the National Young Leadership Conference.
Mr. Sardo is a member of NAfME, NYSSMA, and the Nassau Music Educators Association.
Away from Calhoun H.S., Mr. Sardo is a member of the staff at Center Stage Dance and Creative Arts in West Babylon. He is also a marching band visual clinician, working most recently with the Garden City H.S. and Lindenhurst H.S. Marching Bands. As a theatrical lighting designer and sound designer, he has over 100 Off-Broadway, Regional, and Educational Theatre credits to his name.
Dr. Jennifer McKenna, Ed.D
"Crescendo" Associate Director/Choreographer
Dr. McKenna has been the Choreographer of "Crescendo" since 1995. She was named the show choir's Associate Director in 1998. In addition, she was the Director/Choreographer of "CCPDance" during its existence from 2000-2002. She holds a BA in English with a minor in Secondary Education from Hofstra University and an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. She also holds an Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Phoenix.
Dr. McKenna teaches English and Theatre Arts at West Islip H.S., where, since 1998, she also directs and/ or choreographs many of their 4 yearly productions. From 1998-2004, she served as the Advisor of the school's chapter of the International Thespian Society, and the faculty contact of the school's Drama Boosters Organization. Dr. McKenna also teaches the Syracuse University Project Advance classes at West Islip H.S.
Since 2004, Dr. McKenna has served on the Dance faculty of Center Stage Dance and Creative Arts in West Babylon, where she was also the CEO/Studio Director until 2009.
Dr. McKenna was nominated for the Disney Teacher Awards in 2003. She has been honored by the Town of Islip for her work with her school's Drama Club, and by the Nassau County Legislature, the Town of Hempstead, and Calhoun's chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society for her work with the CCP. She was listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2004.
Described by many as one of Long Island's freshest and most exciting director/choreographers, Dr. McKenna has many Regional, Community, Children's, and Educational Theatre credits as Director, Choreographer, Dancer or Actress.
Ms. Brie Piccirillo
"Crescendo" Associate Choreographer
Ms. Piccirillo has served as Associate Choreographer for Crescendo since 2011. No stranger to the Bellmore-Merrick Central HS District, she is the Choreographer of the annual spring musical at W.C. Mepham High School, for productions including Fame, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and All Shook Up.
Ms. Piccirillo has been dancing for over 25 years and continues singing and performing periodically, with a preference for Italian Aria's. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Queens College. She has been involved in productions of Fosse, Thriller, 42nd Street, Cinderella, Pajama Game and Chicago. As a Queens College sophomore, junior, and senior, Ms. Piccirillo was chosen to be a student choreographer for the school's Student Choreographer's Showcase.
Brie was a member of Crescendo for the years of 2000-2003 and is excited to be back and working with such a talented group of individuals.