BAFFA Year-In-Review 2024/2025

Year-in-Review

57th Season

July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025

BAFFA CHORUS
Conductor: Martha Campanile
Manager: Donna Pace
Accompanists: AnnMarie DiSibio & Maricela McGrath

Librarians: Marge Monheit until December 2024, then Dr. Vanessa Broome & Dr. Jenene Cherney, from January 2025. Marge served as the Chorus Librarian for over 30 years.

Performances
11/24/25 Gifts of the Season - At the United Methodist Church of Patchogue
4/6/25 Peace Through Music - At the Bayport United Methodist Church
6/1/25 Lights! Camera! Action! with the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra at the Congregational Church of Patchogue

Notable Mentions

The chorus maintains an active roster of approximately 70 singers and averages 46 singers at our concerts.
The chorus welcomed seven new singers this season.
At the June concert, Martha Campanile was recognized for her 30 years as the Director of the BAFFA Chorus. There were 15 members when she began in 1995.
Audience numbers increased with each concert.
All concerts were on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 pm

BAFFA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor: Bruce Engel
Personnel Manager: Kristen Pizzirusso

Business & Operations Manager: Trevor Dougherty
Librarians: Danae Butler & Barbara Llobell
Concertmaster: Jen Torre

Performances and rehearsals were all at the Congregational Church in Patchogue
12/8/25 - The Sound of Music, Magic & Mystery
3/16/25 –Serenade, Symphony, & Song
6/1/25– Lights! Camera! Action! with the BAFFA Chorus

Notable Mentions

No ringers needed to be hired this season.
Audience size increased with each concert, and acoustics in the church were excellent.
BAFFA purchased a new podium.
Parking was a concern for the third concert due to another major event taking place in the Patchogue Theatre. There was parking but it was not next to the church.
Some members had space concerns during the concert, and some others had poor sight lines.
Concern about blocked egress by the percussion section which is also the handicapped exit.
All concerts were held on Sundays at 4PM

The orchestra looks forward to having the new cabinets for music installed at the BAFFA Art Gallery this summer.

Orchestra Director Bruce Engel resigned on 6/20/25. The BAFFA Board is beginning a search for a new Director.

BAFFA ART GALLERY
Director: Jeanette Leonard

Gallery Manager: Carol McMahon (July - April) Catherine Smith (May & June)
Workshop Chairperson: Julianna Kirk
Gallery Committee formed with 12 members.

Members Show Committee formed with 5 members.

Exhibits
July: Renee Brown- Overcoming Thoughts – oil painter
August: Jonathan Van Brunt- landscape artist
September: South Bay Art Association – Big Works – group show –mixed medium
October: Stephanie Ivolella – Fine Art Watercolorist – solo show
November: Bell Street Artists – The Warmth of Winter – group - mixed media
December: Holiday Pop-Up Artisan Show - small gift items made by local artists
January: Jenny Ink & JRo the Artist – Visceral – figurative & abstract art
February: Lori & Tony Scarlatos & Arthur Poore of Oompah Artists - - Triptych –mixed media
March: Brightwaters Invitational – Group Show – mixed media
March: Elementary & Middle School Art Show – Bayport-Blue Point and Sayville
April: Annual High School Invitational Juried Art Show – 11 high schools
May: Women Sharing Art – Beautiful – mixed media
June: Judith Caseley & Gabriella Grama – Pieces of Us – mosaic art

Workshops
November – Mosaic Leaf
February - Shrink Art Jewelry
June - Bangle Bling Bracelets

Gallery Improvements/Notable Mentions

The Town of Islip installed a Pioneer air conditioning unit in the gallery in May. They also installed an awning and motion sensor lights and replaced non-skid tape to our steps and did wall-repair and painting.
BAFFA installed a Ring doorbell with camera recording capabilities for increased security.
The cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom that the town of Islip assigned to BAFFA were sorted, cleaned and additional locks were added on the kitchen cabinets.
A bench in memory of long-time BAFFA President, Carole Sheppard, was installed outside on the gallery on Nov. 2, 2024.
New LED lighting has been ordered for the gallery and should be installed by the end of July – Paid for through a grant from the Zelenda Foundation.
Commissioned two cabinets for orchestra music (designed by Jeanette Leonard) to be built by Hartwell Construction and paid for with grant from the Huntington Art Council for General Operating Systems and from a KIT Grant.
Also, commissioned Hartwell Construction to build a new donation collection box on a podium for the gallery built to replace the one that broke.

MEMBERSHIP

Head Chair: Jenna Murphy
Total: 229- chorus 67, gallery 96, General 24, orchestra 42

While we can't compare year over year with total accuracy since prior to July 1 the rolling membership had not been in place for a whole year, last year we did report 206 members. At 229 this year our membership numbers are definitely moving up.
Membership income was $12,523.00 last year. This year it is $13,444.
Rolling Membership continues to work very well. Using Monday.com, we are easily able to send both reminders and acknowledgements. Members are organized into categories so that they can easily be targeted for specific notifications.

OFFICE

Office Manager: Holly Hunt

Organized all computer and hard files
Maintained and updated BAFFA membership list- 2024/2025
Sent out monthly/bi-monthly newsletters
Upheld the BAFFA Branding
Designed/printed all event posters/flyers for website, display, and social media
Continued the usage of QR codes throughout BAFFA events and calls
Introduced "spotlights"on BAFFA board/staff on webpage/newsletters
Partnered with Marketing Specialist and Social Media Intern to help in the growth and outreach of BAFFA
Developed a brand for the Garden Tour and structured a new and improved format for the event, including online sales with printable tickets, a full-color program, event flyers/postcards, and a hand-drawn map
Produced workshop instructor contract, art call prospectuses, and online volunteer forms
Revamped submissions and information to be solely digital for Student Art Shows, Art Calls, job postings, and ticket sales for BAFFA events
Added branch photo galleries on baffa.org for past events
Reintroduced YouTube to include BAFFA 2024/2025 concerts and linked to website
Aided in the relocation of the cancelled Court House Satellite Show
Produced marketing and promotional materials and implemented a plan for successful fundraisers (and devised plans for possible fundraisers)
Creating a Google Calendar to better coordinate all BAFFA events

PUBLICITY

Publicity Chair: Ann Armoza

Gillette House Signs installed on Main St & RR Ave. Thanks to the efforts of Kathleen Young, permanent signs for the Gillette House were placed on Main Street and Railroad Ave. by Suffolk County.
Signage at the Grange advertising the Artisan Show in Dec. on the corner of Montauk and Broadway
Signs for Church Venues – Concert This Sunday at 4PM – All Welcome
Sign Board at Gillette is continually updated to advertise all BAFFA events.
BAFFA Table Banner designed by Jeanette Leonard
BAFFA Brochures were updated and are distributed at BAFFA events

Advertising

Newsday, Suffolk County News, Gazette, More?
Suffolk County Cultural site, the Huntington Arts Council and the Long Island Arts Alliance websites
Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce – Bernice Corbin, our liaison, attends monthly meetings and keeps members informed of what BAFFA is doing.

Newsletter

Holly Hunt sends BAFFA exciting, informative and timely newsletters to 699 subscribers twice a month through Mail Chimp

Social Media

Instagram 565 followers, Facebook 230 followers, YouTube channel reinstated

Website

Receives between 690-1200 visits each month depending on the month

Video

Anthony Wilson created a short, informative and interesting video about the three branches of BAFFA. It is posted on our website and on YouTube and can be utilized for any informative talks about BAFFA

Marketing Plan developed as part of the HAC Grant

REVENUE SOURCES

Memberships
Donations
Grants
Virtual Art Auction
Gallery commissions, donations, and workshops
Concert donations
Garden Tour
Savers- Clothing Drive
CD interest
Jacqueline C. Palmer Award for music and art students

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Patchogue Arts Council – Arts on Terry
Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce (each month Liaison, Bernice Corbin informs the Chamber of BAFFA events)
Sayville Fall Festival
Miracle on Main – Victorian Carolers
Oakdale Historical Society- Victorian Carolers - Civil War Christmas
Main Street Fire Relief Fund

Huntington Arts Council

Hosting a meeting for Master Artists in the Sayville area

Sayville Garden Club

Partnered with the SGC for A Little Garden Music and Art

Turkish Cultural Center

Partnered with the TCC and the Congregational Church for tri-cultural presentation

MISCELLANEOUS
1. Board adopted the required Sexual Harassment Training and manual
2. First Meet & Greet 11/2/24 – next one on September 28, 2025
3. Created a Musicians Assistance Fund for musicians who need financial assistance to join BAFFA in order to participate

BOARD

President: Donna Smosky
VP: Yvonne Sing
Secretary Gina Eldredge
Treasurer: Kelly Jones
Chorus Manager: Donna Pace
Gallery Manager: Carol McMahon (July-April) Catherine Smith (May & June)
Gallery Workshop Chairperson: Julianna Kirk
Membership: Chair: Jenna Murphy
Orchestra Personnel Manager: Kristen Pizzirusso
Orchestra Business & Operations Manager: Trevor Dougherty
Program Notes: Jane Love
Publicity: Ann Armoza
Members at Large: Jan Charles, Judy Hester, Jordan Occhiogrosso, Jessie Robbins