Joseph Manso has had a 51-year love affair with music and the Seaford community. On Saturday, May 17, 2008 in the Joseph A. Manso Auditorium at Seaford High School part of that love affair will end. In his last public appearance Mr. Manso will conduct the Seaford Community Band and Marian Male Chorus one last time. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. The high school is located on Seamans Neck Road in Seaford, north of Sunrise Hwy.
Joseph Manso started teaching in the Seaford Public Schools in 1957. At the time, the music program was very small and he worked diligently to expand the instrumental music program through the secondary schools. Under Mr. Manso’s direction music flourished in the Seaford Public Schools and in 1967, he became Director of Music for the district and the high school band director.
Mr. Manso has conducted members of the high school band, orchestra and chorus on concert tours throughout the United States, Canada and Europe where the groups received national and international acclaim. In 1979, the Seaford High School Band was the first American group to be invited to perform in the International Music Festival in Belgium and returned home with the highest award from the festival. In 1984, the high school music program received a special commendation from the Middle States Association of College and Secondary Schools.
In 1988, Joseph Manso retired from the Public School District and the Seaford Community Band was formed. Mr. Manso became Director of the Marian Male Chorus that same year. With heartfelt appreciation and honor, the grateful community of Seaford named the high school auditorium the Joseph A. Manso Auditorium. The Seaford Community Band and Marian Male Chorus have enjoyed entertaining the Seaford community for more than 20 years under his direction.
Mr. Manso is not only a phenomenal musician, conductor and teacher, he is a father figure, mentor and, most of all, a dear and loving friend to countless numbers of people. His legacy of love and music will live in our hearts and community for years to come.
We invite you to join the Seaford Community Band and Marian Male Chorus at our last concert with Mr. Manso on Saturday, May 17, 2008 in the Joseph A. Manso Auditorium at Seaford High School. The concert starts at 7:30pm. The high school is located on Seamans Neck Road in Seaford, north of Sunrise Hwy.
