The Center for Career Services’ Audio Production program hit a new milestone on June 3, 2026, hosting its first-ever Echo City Music Fest—an event entirely conceived, organized, and produced by students.
Held on the lawn between Buildings B and C on the Valhalla campus, the festival served as the centerpiece of the school’s end-of-year celebration. A professional stage, rented from the Westchester County Parks Department, transformed the outdoor space into a live performance venue featuring student talent from across multiple programs.
While Audio Production students are well known for supporting major school events like the FirstDance Film Festival and Future Fashion Show, Echo City Music Fest marked the first time they took full ownership of a large-scale production from start to finish.
Mr. Harty referred to the event as a student-based enterprise—hence the accompanying slogan, "Where Every Sound has a Place."
“The students were the main stars here,” he said. “They went out to as many programs across campus as they could, spoke to the student body, raised interest, had students fill out application forms, held auditions, etc. They really took on the role of both producers and managers.”
Students not only held auditions and selected talent; they were also responsible for stage setup, live sound, and show management—with the assistance of school counselor Kevin McAllister as the deejay.
Leading the production were Audio Production student interns John Ziomber of Eastchester, Harrison Novak of Eastchester, and Zach Rechtschaffen of Scarsdale (pictured), supported by their classmates throughout the program.
“Producing the Echo City Music Festival was truly an experience in itself,” Ziomber said. “I learned many valuable lessons that included teamwork, cooperation, communication, and time management… The festival felt like a real-world experience to me since me and the team were tasked to make sure the festival ran professionally and smoothly.”
Novak emphasized the technical growth that came with the experience. “I think the real-world and student-run experience of the Echo City Music Festival was very beneficial for expanding my knowledge base of live sound,” he said. “It helped me develop various skills such as working as a team, communication, and organization.”
From front-of-house mixing and feedback control to stage coordination and production logistics, students applied the skills they’ve developed in the classroom to a live event environment—further reinforcing the program’s focus on real-world readiness.
The success of Echo City Music Fest not only showcased student talent on stage, but also highlighted the depth of skill and professionalism behind the scenes, as Audio Production students brought their vision to life.
“We worked for weeks on end, practicing setting up and breaking down the stage so we could have the best experience and execute it the fastest we possibly could,” Rechtschaffen said. “It almost felt like a final project, in a way. It was an amazing experience to be able to showcase our program, so people know what we are capable of.”