Bill Sweeney

Invitation to the Dedication Concert

Dedication of the William J. Sweeney Performance Hall

Sunday, June 5^th, 2011 at 3:00pm

The Arlington Music Department will host a special concert and dedication ceremony on Sunday, June 5^th, beginning at 3pm, in the William J. Sweeney Performance Hall.  The concert will celebrate the new auditorium and will pay tribute to Dad and the many ensembles and programs that he created during his 32 years at Arlington.  The concert is free and open to the public, but we ask that you kindly send an email to krizzo@acsdny.org if you plan to attend, so that Arlington staff and the Band Boosters may have a better estimate on the number of guests to expect.

Rich Guillen, a current Arlington music teacher, reports “Jazz Machine, Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia Strings, Concert Choir and several small ensembles will all be performing in this dedication event. Lots of special things planned for this event!” 

Linda, Lauri, Jill, and Tara will all be traveling to LaGrangeville to attend the concert and dedication ceremony along with 20 other Sweeney family members—ranging in ages 4 to 75!  If you are in the area, we hope that you will consider joining us at this celebration of the new auditorium and of Dad’s contributions to music and music education at Arlington. 

Through Facebook, we have learned of many old friends who will be attending.  But we know that not everyone is hooked into Facebook, so please help spread the word.  Feel free to forward this link to friends, and let us know if you (or your family who might still live in the community) plan to attend so we can be sure to look out for you. 

Arlington High School Auditorium

We are delighted to share the news that the Arlington Central School District’s Board of Education voted to name the newly renovated high school auditorium in honor of Dad.  The William J. Sweeney Performance Hall opened earlier this year after a multiyear renovation, which gutted the Dome to the studs, and it has hosted numerous wonderful concerts throughout the year.  The text of the proposal that was unanimously adopted by the Board reads:

Whereas Mr. William J. Sweeney pioneered and created many music programs for the Arlington Central School District as Band Director and Music Coordinator of Arlington High School beginning in 1968, and

Whereas Mr. Sweeney built a music program, which began with just 20 students, but grew to include five bands, three orchestras, a competitive marching band, an award-winning jazz band, and numerous ensembles involving more than.600 students, and

Whereas Mr. Sweeney created unique and enriching concert events, such as PRISMS, the Guest Conductor Program, Concert on the Lawn, the Elementary Christmas Tour, and the Wind Ensemble Concerto Program, and founded in 1976, the 1st Arlington Marching Band Invitational, and

Whereas Mr. Sweeney began the jazz tradition at Arlington High School by establishing the nationally renowned Jazz Machine, participating in the prestigious Berklee Jazz Festival, and instituting the annual jazz “Cabaret”, and

Whereas the Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools, faculty, staff, students and parents will be forever grateful for his commitment and dedication and his positive impact on thousands of Arlington students,

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Arlington Central School District does hereby name the auditorium at Arlington High School as the William J. Sweeney Performance Hall as a permanent and public recognition of Mr. Sweeney’s contribution to Arlington and its students.”

We know that many of the students, parents, and colleagues who have posted on this site were among those who helped petition for this honor, and we extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for this recognition of Dad’s work.  Our connection to Arlington runs deep, even though we have all moved away from the Hudson Valley; so it is especially gratifying to know that the William J. Sweeney Performance Hall will tie us further to the Arlington music department and to the great community of educators, students, and parents that keep it thriving and growing today.