A little more brass and percussion in “Sing We Noel.”
Classical works, longtime favorites, plus selections from around the world, played and sung with skill, passion and joy.
Staples High School’s 85th annual Candlelight Concert — the first of 3 weekend shows — thrilled and inspired a full house last night.
As always, it was the Music Department’s gift to the town.
As always, it was the greatest gift of the holiday season.
“06880” photographer Lynn Untermeyer Miller — a former Candlelight Concert performer herself — shares these images, from a night of wonder.
Staples Class of 1961 graduate Lucy Weberling (above) and her sister Janet (SHS ’63) traveled from Oklahoma, just for this year’s Candlelight Concert. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Longtime Candlelight stalwarts: former Staples principal John Dodig, and Jackie-of-all-trades Alice Addicks.
Directors (from left) Carrie Mascaro (orchestra), Caitlin Serpliss an Kevin Mazzarella (band), Jeri Brima (orchestra) and Lauren Pine (choral), after the “Hallelujah Chorus.” (Photo/Dan Woog)
(All photos/Lynn Untermeyer Miller unless otherwise noted)
It was a beautiful performance… I sat next to a visitor from the Boston area, and she couldn’t stop her wonder and amazement at the talent, the enormity(number of participants), and the overall ability of our students. Thank Lynn for getting a photo of my kiddo in her last round of Candlelight!!
Stunning performances. The pieces picked are so interesting, surely challenging to learn and full of passion. The students and staff are so talented. With warm lighting and such smooth transitions the evening surely touched everyone’s heart. Westport truly celebrates and values the arts in so many different ways. Hallelujah as a finale- a wonderful tradition. We are blessed in this sweet town.
I think that the first candlelight concert held in “the new Auditorium was 1957”. I was Staples 1958 and our class was the last class to graduate from Riverside Ave. We did travel to the “new Staples” for rehearsals and for the concert. I have the 33 1/3 recordings from 1956, 1957 and 1958. I have insisted that we keep an old record player so I can listen to them.
I haven’t gone to a Candlelight performance since my son was an Orphenian. But am I the only who noticed that there wasn’t even ONE Chanukah song?
The second song, “Al Shlosha,” is described online as “a lyrical setting of an essential maxim from Jewish morality laws, translated to mean: “The world is sustained by three things: by truth, by justice, and by peace.'”
The choral groups performed it beautifully.
What a magical evening at the candlelight concert. Thf “ Sing We Noel” piece just tears me up. It was all wonderful. I’m so proud that I graduated from Staples. What an incredible music department. Thank you for the picture of me, Van it was well worth the plane ride and the wonderful visit to New York and Connecticut
I was so happy to think back on the article in 06880 on the new score for Sing We Noel when I attended yesterday. As someone who remembers being handed a falling apart piece of unreadable music for the piece 25 years ago the new version is so much better. Good job Staples music teachers making this happen!