Piano Wunderkind To Play Final Show At 317 Main Street In Farmingdale: 'Pay It Forward'

FARMINGDALE, NY — Fans of 317 Main Street in Farmingdale may know Mariano Schwartz: The teenage bus boy and pianist has been working at the restaurant while entertaining guests and collecting donations for charitable causes for the past few years.

Schwartz, 18, is scheduled to play his final show at 317 Main Street at 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 23. He is set to attend the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken this fall, where he will be studying electrical engineering.

The young musician is going back to his roots for his final show: All tips collected will go to Saltzman East Memorial School, where Schwartz attended elementary school. The school has a program where it provides scholarships to children who attend music camp during the summer.

Schwartz has raised $95,000 in total during his piano-playing career at the restaurant, donating his tips to various charitable causes. Some past causes include the Bronx Veterans Medical Research ReWalk program, which enables veterans to walk again; Saint Anthony’s Padre Pio Fund, ensuring that any student can have access to a Catholic, Franciscan education; and 317 Executive Chef Eric LeVine's New York City Marathon fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of his younger brother, Ethan.

Schwartz said hitting triple digits in his fundraising journey would be a "really good way" to end his piano playing career at the restaurant.

"It's something I actually really want," Schwartz, who has been performing for four years, told Patch.

One of Schwartz's fondest memories of playing the piano at 317 Main Street was helping the community to heal following the tragic Farmingdale High School marching band bus crash that claimed the lives of the high school's music director, Gina Pellettiere, and longtime educator and band camp chaperone, Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari.

Pellettiere and Ferrari were killed when the bus carrying the Farmingdale High School marching band to Greeley, Pennsylvania, for an annual band camp, crashed and tumbled down a 50-foot ravine in Orange County, on Sept. 21, 2023.

Pellettiere, 43, Massapequa, was the single mother of a 2-year-old son, Joseph.

Schwartz held the first of two shows for Joseph's education fund mere days after the crash. He raised approximately $8,500 for Joseph's education.

"The back room of 317 was completely packed with people," Schwartz said of the first show for Joseph Pellettiere. "It was a special day in light of what happened. I remember being proud of my community and being proud of all the people who were there. It was a really special moment for me."

While the song is ending for Schwartz, he wanted to share a message with everyone who has supported him during his time playing at 317.

"Pay it forward," he said. "Always go out of your way to be nice. Even if I'm not [performing] anymore, it shouldn't stop people from doing what's right."

Brian Schwartz, Mariano's father, asked people who are interested in watching his son perform to make reservations at 317 Main Street in advance of Aug. 23, and to specifically request the "Mariano on the Piano" show if they would like to attend. Reservations may be booked on 317 Main Street's website or by calling 516-512-5317.

Brian said there are many reasons he is proud of Mariano, but one in particular stands out. Before the last fundraiser he ran, for LeVine's marathon, Mariano was given the option of using his tips to help pay his incoming student debt once he starts attending the Stevens Institute of Technology, Brian said.

"It blew me away that his choice was, 'I'll deal with my debt later, but I'm going to finish this. I'm going to go out giving whatever I make until the last day I play,'" Brian said. "I thought that was super special. This isn't about buying a pair of Nikes or a new video game. This is substantial student debt that he could be paying off, but he still thinks, whether it's God's plan or whatever, that other people still need the money more than him. For him to still prioritize other people over himself. That's who this kid became."

Brian wished to impart a Buddhist quote encouraging people to give back.

"Do not consider the faults of others," he said. "Or what they have done or haven’t done. Consider rather what you yourself have or haven’t done."

Mariano said he cannot wait for Aug. 23.

"I hope it's going to be another great night," he said. "I hope I get to see familiar faces and finally break that six-digit barrier. I'm excited."