By Ed Birch, Special Writer
South Brunswick High School has a new band director.
Steve Cooney, 28, who previously served as associate band director at South Brunswick High School from August 2008 until June 2009, has been named as the Vikings Marching Band Director, replacing Mark Kraft who retired after a long stint as the band’s mentor.Mr. Cooney will also join the Music Department at the school.
Mr. Cooney had left his previous work with the Vikings band to accept a position as director of instrumental music with the Delaware Valley Regional School District.
In addition to this position, Mr. Cooney also taught instrumental music in the Frenchtown Elementary and Middle School through a shared service agreement.
Among his accomplishments was the implementation of educational technology including the use of Apple iPads, eBackpack, Power Teacher Gradebook, Genesis, Jupiter, Teachspace, and Schoolwires web builder.
In his teaching position, Mr. Cooney recruited all of the fifth grade students into joining the instrumental music program.
In addition, he built connections for the younger students to join the high school music program by raising the level of transition from the middle school involvement into the high school music program.
Mr. Cooney is a graduate of The College of New Jersey in Ewing, and earned a Bachelor’s in Music in 2008.
In his previous service with the district, Mr. Cooney provided audio services at many school events including the Marching Band, which included live and recorded sound production.
He is also credited with the creation of the online system for submitting lesson plans using online surveys.
At college, he participated as Conductor of the school’s Concert Band, and participated in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Saxophone Quartet.
"It is with great joy and much personal happiness that I find myself being given the chance to come back home to South Brunswick," he said. "I am really looking forward to working with the excellent staff that the marching band has in their family."
The staff includes show designer Virginia Kraft, and teachers Donna Cardaneo, and Casey Beggs. Other staff includes former marching band participants Ashley and Bella Delgado and Chris Carbone.
According to Mr. Cooney, the pool of applicants was dwindled down to eight candidates for the first round of interviews.
"I survived the final round of interviews, when the field was further reduced to three candidates" said Mr. Cooney.
This year’s Vikings Band Show is entitled "The Verti-Go" and Mr. Cooney is looking forward to teaching the program to the band members as they start instruction at the annual four-day band camp at the high school, followed by another four days at band camp at Camp Johnsonburg, in Blairstown.

