FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
THROWERS
THROWERS
LaGamma remembers . “ Now , I just taught an hour-long jazz class and I ’ m going to see them again tomorrow for 40 minutes ,” he added . His ensemble has grown from just four students to over 50 .
In addition to teaching five music classes and moderating two extracurricular activities , LaGamma somehow found time to record an album with his father , Victor LaGamma , and a friend named John Doty .
The trio ’ s album , titled Boom , features nine contemporary jazz tracks . LaGamma plays the double bass while his father plays the piano , accompanied by Doty on the drums .
“ I made the album so that when people ask me ‘ what do you do ?’ I can just point to it and say ‘ Listen to it ,’” he laughed .
Some of the music on the album was written by LaGamma before the pandemic . He enjoys the process of writing music just as he delights in arranging pieces for the students in his jazz ensemble .
“ I think that it ’ s also good that [ the students ] see me as not just a teacher but also as a musician . I think being as authentic as possible is important ,” he stated .
Despite being nervous about assuming the role of department chair , LaGamma is excited to continue collaborating with his colleagues to make the Visual and Performing Arts experience at the Prep different from his own .
“ I ’ m always thinking about what we can improve , not what we can emulate , because if we recreate what we have done in the past then the department isn ’ t moving forward ,” he said .
Listen to LaGamma play the double bass with his trio on Boom , available on Spotify , Amazon Music , and other streaming platforms .
TOP : LaGamma conducting one of his student bands at a Fordham Prep concert in Leonard Theatre .
LEFT : In addition to playing in the band , LaGamma ( back row , second from right ) found himself participating in track and field , football , and the National Honor Society . “ I kind of love that about Fordham Prep — you aren ’ t defined by these individual things . You ’ re not the art kid or the athlete , because you do all these different activities ,” he said .
ABOVE RIGHT : LaGamma ( middle ) was inducted into the Societa ’ Onoraria Italica , a national Italian Honor Society in 2009 . His “ now ” mother-in-law and colleague , Patricia Simeone ( right ) and Teresa Faustini ( left ) from Modern Languages , are moderators of the Prep ’ s Italian Club .
BOTTOM RIGHT : LaGamma ( double bass ) recorded Boom with his father , Victor LaGamma ( piano ), and John Doty ( drums ). LaGamma also plays music with his dad at a restaurant called Alvin & Friends in New Rochelle , NY .
SUMMER 2022 VOLUME 42 , ISSUE 3
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