Staples High School’s first Candlelight Concert was in 1941.
Lucy Weberling took part in the 20th Candlelight, in 1960. But she’s never forgotten it. She was here in Westport for last weekend’s concert — the 85th.
It was a long journey. Lucy lives in Oklahoma. She writes:
My Staples Class of 1961 was the first class to go all 3 years in the “new” building. (In 1958, the high school moved from Riverside Avenue — now Saugatuck Elementary School — to a campus of 6 unconnected buildings on North Avenue.)
Staples music director John Ohanian created the Candlelight Concert in 1941.
I was in choir, chorus, band and orchestra, under Mr. John Ohanian and George Weigle. I loved all the fantastic arts programs at Staples, and majored in music at Southern Methodist University in Dallas following high school.
My sister Janet Weberling (now Holly Redwood), also was active in the music programs in Staples. She want on to Northwestern University, in marketing.
About 10 years ago I got interested in livestreaming the Staples Candlelight service, and was successful. We sang along to the whole program. It was so uplifting and exciting — really adding to the holiday spirit.
Then they took it way, probably due to ASCAP/BMI issues. I know, because I owned a music venue for a while.
[NOTE: “06880” asked Stephen Zimmerman, the public schools’ town-wide arts coordinator, why Candlelight is not livestreamed. He said that while the music department would like to explore livestreaming in the future, doing so would require additional staffing, sound equipment, licensing and budgets. They will pursue it if, financially and logistically, it can be done in a sustainable, high-quality way.]
I still play music. I taught it in all levels in schools, play in bluegrass and other roots music groups, and jam with friends and other musicians.
I am on the board of bluegrass festivals, and lead yoga sessions at various bluegrass festivals nationally. I also sing in my Unitarian Universalist church choir here in Tulsa.
My sister also sings in the UU choir. Tulsa hosts the Woody Guthrie Center, the Bob Dylan Center, and Leon Russell’s Church Studio. We are all about music.
We have quite an important Native American culture too. There are 39 tribes here, and the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.
George Weigle was the choral director when Lucy Weberling sang at Staples.
As I get older, and want to experience some of what you might call my “bucket list” ( I don’t call it that), and because my son works for American Airlines, and I can fly either standby or a 20% discount, I thought: Why not go to the Staples concert?
I wrote to Staples, got names of teachers in the music department, and asked about assurance of tickets. (I probably bugged them a lot, but I didn’t want to make plane reservations unless I was sure to get tickets.)
My sister and I made our reservations, I got in touch with my friend Chris Burdette, who also sang in the Staples choir, and we made our plans.
We also wanted to see the holiday lights in New York City. I got in touch with family, and planned that for the day before the concert.
The trip went well. There was a gridlock alert. It was hugely packed. We could barely move. But we saw some lights, and the Rockefeller Center tree from afar.
When it came time for the Candlelight concert, it was so thrilling to enter into the building to a chamber music group welcoming us.
I hurried to find seats. We ended up in the front row — not the best, but the only ones available.
Lucy Weberling at the Candlelight Concert. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Tears came to my eyes as “Sing We Noel” began. It was almost holy.
The selections represented many other religions and ethnicities. That’s so important, and something I miss living in Oklahoma (although we do have a lot of Hispanic, Asian and Muslim heritage here).
The “Kije Suite,” “Bogoroditse Devo,” “Ogo ni fun Oluwa,” “Stille Nacht” — and then the magnificent “Gloria” by John Rutter – all were fantastic.
The view from the audience.
The Candlelight Vignettes — a super version of “Carol of the Bells,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Waltz of the Flowers,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Sleigh Ride”
(wow!), and … the “Hallelujah Chorus!”
I was thrilled to get up and sing along with the choir. Even though I was hoarse, and was with the sopranos.
Lucy Weberling (front, 2nd from left), with alumni and current singers, in the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
This concert will live as one of my most favorite memories and experiences. I still am basking in the glory of the music program at Staples High School. You Westporters are so fortunate to get to send your kids to this marvelous school.
My sis and I were/are so lucky that, when our dad was transferred to the New York office of his company, MW Kellogg, that he chose Westport as our place to live.
I hope to come back again next year. What a wonderful experience!
My twin Ann and I were in the choir too with Lucy! Heck maybe I’ll come back next year too!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all 06880 readers and to you Dan. You’re a gift to us EVERYDAY!
Lucy: what a terrific story and you have certainly illustrated one of the great advantages of music over certain sports.
Putting aside the outlier of the annual return of Dave Wilson (‘75) to Staples soccer’s Thanksgiving Day tradition of the Turkey Bowl—for current players and alumni—there is no one from my era who is capable of getting out on the field and playing alongside the current Staples team members.
And, unlike you and your sister, who are still active singing in choirs and/or playing music, the soccer players from my generation at Staples have long stopped playing the beautiful game. (Of course, some of those players have taken up golf with a real passion🙂.)
But I can only begin to imagine what a thrill that was for you to return to watch the concert and then get up on stage in the same venue where you had such special experiences more than 60 years ago.
And, that you have the good health to have done that—obviously that is something else to be very thankful for.
I think my cousin, Susan Parise was also in the first class too (1961). I sent this post to Bill Burge, who lives out in Oregon. I think he was in the class of 1961. Interesting article, but a few years before my time.
How fun and exciting that must have been. I sang in the Staples Choir in 1957 & 1958 and it is still one of my most favorite memories and I too sing along everytime I hear those songs we sang. We were so blessed to have had that life long memory and experience……..
I agree with you Lucy. One of my favorite memories of Staples. Had the occasion to go back to a concert several years after graduation and I started crying at Sing we Noel and by the time they got to the Hallelujah chorus I was a basket case. My kids thought I had lost my mind. It was amazing. Loved Mr. Wiegle. He was the best. Thanks for the memories Lucy.
Silly me( lucy weberling( I neglected to mention the most important group we have here in Oklahoma – the natives. We have 39 tribes in Oklahoma. Very influential in our culture here