To the Editor:

School board member Mary Ann Ashley is right about the restoration of one music teacher in the music department. In addition to reaching all of the students of Potsdam Central, the music department has an exemplary record.

Included in that record are the achievements of its graduates historically.

One could start with Helen Hosmer, a graduate of Potsdam High School.

In recent years graduates have included a current organist with the Morman Tabernacle Choir, the vocal percussionist with Rockapella, a recording and touring guitarist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, past members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, members of orchestras in Europe and other places, members of faculties at some of the most prestigious college music schools in America, music educators across the spectrum and around the country, members of some of this country’s finest ethnic music ensembles, musical directors and producers of Broadway shows, musical performers of every stripe and level and the list goes on and on.

The music department sometimes has been accused of operating like a conservatory. It does give individualized lessons to its students. That is why they are able to achieve individually and with the school’s ensembles.

That is commendable but the music department also provides a great musical education to the whole general student population at Potsdam Central School.

It is a beacon for music education across the north country, across the state and across America. And you know it accomplishes all of this with less than ideal facilities, especially at the high school.

It also provides a very positive attitude in the students about their role in the arts, the arts in general, and in a sense, life in general.

It is unfortunate that the governor of New York State doesn’t understand the negative implications of his budget on education, on health care, on the arts, and on a host of other important programs this state provides. I believe it is our job to continually educate this governor because his views are parochial in the very narrow sense of that word. If we don’t, it is only going to get worse.

Joseph M. Liotta, Norwood