The magnificent melodies echoing across the Commons. The sounds of laughter. The chatter of happy students. The gulping down of delicious pizza and donuts. These were sounds heard on the afternoon of Thursday, October 19, from students in chapter 2605, North’s Tri-M Chapter, in addition to neighboring towns. The Tri-M dinner was a success on both ends – for the students and parents of North who coordinated the dinner, along with the guests who enjoyed themselves. “Each year it gets better and better,” said Tri-M Chapter Advisor Joseph Rutkowski.

For 15 years, the Chapter 2605 annual dinner was aimed to unite many chapters throughout Long Island with a dinner consisting of raffles, live performances, games, and lots of food. Fortunately, due to the terrific effort incorporated by the chapter’s officers and parents year after year, Chapter 2605 has accomplished its goal on an annual basis, and this year was no different. For the first time, an online RSVP system was initiated and sent to almost every music department in the Nassau and Suffolk. According to this RSVP system, which did not account for additional guests, the Commons was filled with 103 people, including students and parents from North High School.

Orchestra and band teacher, Mr. Rutkowski, recounts the history of Tri-M dinners at North. “The first year that we [hosted a dinner] was, I think, 2005. I did most of the work and I was exhausted. The next day, I told my students that there would be no more Tri-M Dinners, and they complained,” said Mr. Rutkowski. “ I told them that if they promised to do all the work, I would get them a date and see how it goes. The next year, they did all the work and all I did was send out publicity to the music teachers and Tri-M Advisors I knew. It was a great success.”

The exceptional attendance this year yielded great revenue, which was donated in honor of hurricane relief.

Firstly, guests paid five dollars each for admission. The funds from the tickets sales have been donated for hurricane relief in Florida, Texas and the Caribbean.

The members of Chapter 2605 were extremely impressed by the large groups of students who attended from various schools.

Some schools even arrived in large school buses, which was a first for Chapter 2605. Luckily, there was plenty of food to serve everyone, despite ordering five extra boxes of pizza.

In contribution to a year of firsts for North’s prestigious Tri-M Chapter, students from other schools had the opportunity to perform for their peers and students they had yet to meet. Games provided additional entertainment for students during the dinner.

First, North hosted a competitive jeopardy game which challenged students to work together and collaborate greatly.

Afterwards, the officers of North’s chapter presented a game of Kahoot, which predominantly challenged the ability of students to recall pieces of music.

Intermittently during the dinner, raffles prizes were distributed to those who won based off the purchase of a ticket upon entry. The proceeds from the raffles were also donated to hurricane relief.

Raffle prizes included free classes at the Gold Coast Arts Center, a free lesson at the Great Neck Music Conservatory, a gift card for Infinity Clothing, a free trial session at Bare Bonz Fitness, a Starbucks gift card, a Dunkin Donuts gift card, and four free tickets to a South Shore Symphony Orchestra concert.

Once the dinner concluded, students departed North High School with smiles and the sounds of laughter after another successful Tri-M Dinner.

However, not only was the dinner successful to this extent, but the chapter also made $282 in funds, with some additional funds from the chapter bake sales held in September and October.

The dinner was a major success. Tri-M officers spent multiple hours in Room 218 with advisor Mr. Rutkowski to perform tasks such as sending invitations or making flyers.

Officers also planned the layout of tables and the positioning of the piano.

Every officer was committed to the event and spent hours planning and coordinating all the details to perfect the dinner for both the Chapter 2605 members and parents, along with the guests.

This past summer, Chapter 2605 was awarded to host the Tri-M dinner as the recipient of the prestigious national Chapter of the Year Award.

While the officers and Mr. Rutkowski were knowledgeable of their accomplishment and felt very proud of the chapter and its new reputation, the chapter instead explained to other schools why the prestigious chapter deserved this recognition.

Predominantly, the officers and Mr. Rutkowski discussed the Skype session with ANIM (Afghanistan National Institute of Music), the only functioning music school in Afghanistan, which is currently targeted by the Taliban, and has already suffered multiple terrorist attacks, including a suicide bombing which paralyzed the hearing of the school’s director and caused severe damage to the school’s instruments.

ANIM was the recipients of the funds from the prior Tri-M Dinner held in 2016. Ever since, the chapter has been encouraging other schools to get in touch with ANIM and have Skype sessions with the school.

Many can agree that the dinner was an enjoyable experience that was actually the largest dinner held in the last fifteen years.

“This was definitely the best dinner,” said advisor Joseph Rutkowski. “Students from outside came and our students did a fantastic set up and – even more impressive than ever – a fabulous and quick clean up.”