Gene Lamendola

Gene Lamendola started taking piano lessons at the age of three. He comes from a musical family. His father was a trombonist with the Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Buddy Rich Big Bands. His second cousin Johnny Costa was a pianist and music director with The Mike Douglas TV Show and Mister Rodgers Neighborhood. Gene won the International Art of Jazz Scholarship at the age of eighteen. He played with such notable musicians such as Clark Terry, Ed Shaugnessey, Eddie Brigati from the Rascals, Link Wray and Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge. His music students performed with the Clay Aiken HBO Christmas Special at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Gene has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania , A Master Of Arts and Liberal Studies Degree from Stony Brook University and an Educational Administration Degree from Hofstra University. Gene has taught music for over forty years , Thirteen years as an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College , Eight years at Hampton Music and Arts and East End Arts. Mr. Lamendola was also Art and Music Chairman at North Babylon Public Schools where he taught for twenty seven years.