Kieran Rafferty ’23

From oboe players to cello musicians, there are a number of Chaminade High School students who play their hearts out each and every day. One Chaminade senior who has especially dedicated himself to both the school’s bands and his local community is Ryan Renganeschi ’23.

Renganeschi is an enthusiastic tuba and trombone player. He has competed at either the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) or All-State every year since the 5th grade. Throughout Renganeschi’s high school career, he has achieved many accomplishments, been a leader to others, and brought music to the Chaminade hallways.

Throughout the first two years of Renganeschi’s high school music career, he faced obstacles that many musicians struggled with during the pandemic. He “marched to the beat of his own drum” as he had to craft and follow his own practice schedule, motivating himself to play every day.

“I created these goals for myself that reflected what type of musician I wanted to become here at Chaminade,” Renganeschi reflected. 

During Renganeschi’s junior year at Chaminade, meanwhile, he was a member of the Gold Band, Pit Band, and Jazz Band. This triple commitment was exceptional, but it ultimately paid off: last year, Renganeschi competed for All-State in tuba and scored a 99 out of 100.

Throughout his time at Chaminade, Renganeschi has appreciated learning from his teachers, Mr. Robert Evans and Mr. Brian Lewis. Despite being initially told that “tuba players are not allowed in jazz ensembles,” Renganeschi was prepared to make it work. In fact, he started to study the trombone with Evans specifically for Jazz Band.

As a senior, Renganeschi continues to play in all three bands. He will be performing at NYSSMA’s All-County during the spring of 2023. Renganeschi is a leader within the Flyers bands, and he is always eager to get other students to join. Whether it involves reaching out to freshmen who are just starting out at Chaminade, or encouraging the seniors in his homeroom to pick up a new activity, he wants everyone to enjoy the benefits of having a music-filled life.

“I’m grateful to belong to a community that promotes my aspirations,” Renganeschi stated, “because many of my friends today have originated from the Flyers band. There are some things in life you can’t explain, and playing a solo on the tuba with your friends around you, with actors performing and the audience watching, is a moment I don’t think I could ever forget.”

Beyond Chaminade, Renganeschi often volunteers to play tuba for his local Suffolk community. He is also a member of the All-County Tuba Ensemble, where he performs many notable pieces of work. Recently, when playing a solo of “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, well-known musicians from across Long Island personally congratulated him.

“When I performed my solo alongside three other talented musicians,” Renganeschi stated, “many of them approached me and talked to me about my performance. Since I was so nervous to solo in the first place, it was a great experience to collaborate with such an amazing group within such a great environment.”

Whether it is playing tuba for children at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School, rehearsing numbers for the Chaminade pit band, or performing at Chaminade and local community concerts, Renganeschi hopes that his passion for music will stay with him in college and beyond.