Tonight’s Candlelight Concert — the 1st show of the 2-day, 74th annual gift to the town from the Staples High School music department — wowed a packed auditorium.
Hundreds of singers and musicians performed sophisticated pieces with aplomb. They threw in a PDQ Bach number, and the world premiere of a global warming-themed production number by Don Rickenbach.
And, of course, the timeless “Sing We Noel” processional, and rousing “Hallelujah Chorus” finale, serve as fitting bookends for one of Westport’s favorite events of the year.
“Now let hosannas ring…” (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
The chorus and chorale, with accompanist Dr. Robert Kwan. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
The a cappella choir, directed by Luke Rosenberg. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
Adele Valovich leads the symphonic orchestra. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
Nick Mariconda and the symphonic band. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
A lot went on during the clever production number. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
At the end of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” the audience was invited to return next year — when the Candlelight Concerts celebrates its 75th anniversary. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
Posted onDecember 7, 2014|Comments Off on The Orphenians’ Gift Box
The Orphenians are entering their busy season. Staples’ elite a cappella group is in high demand during the holidays.
But they’re also looking ahead to spring. In March, they’ve been invited to San Francisco. They’re one of 10 schools — and the only one from the East Coast — to participate in Chanticleer’s National Youth Choral Festival.
It’s an expensive undertaking. To raise funds, they’re bringing a giant music box to their performances. Donations are gratefully accepted.
The box was there last night, for Chanticleer’s performance at Christ & Holy Trinity Church.
The Orphenians, and their gift music box.
It will be out this weekend too, at the Candlelight Concert. If you’d like to help, drop cash or checks (made out to “Staples Music,” with “Orphenians” in the memo line) into the box.
Donations can also be sent to Luke Rosenberg, c/o Staples High School, 70 North Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.
Next year, Staples’ Candlelight Concert celebrates its 75th anniversary. Hallelujah!
To mark the occasion, the music department — in conjunction with Class of 1961 grad John Brandt — plans a spectacular video.
In 1979, the annual concert was already 39 years old.
Candlelight originator John Ohanian was known for his meticulous attention to detail. The organizers of next year’s celebration have learned his lessons well.
Thirteen months ahead of time, they’re already searching for archival material. They need programs from before 1961 (the 1st one — 1940 — would be golden).
They’d like still photos, and of course recordings — either vinyl, old Beta videos, even reel-to-reel tapes.
Please send in jpeg or .wav format — or simply in its original form. All material will be copied and returned. Send to: Adele Valovich c/o Staples High School, 70 North Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. You can email her at avalovich@westport.k12.ct.us, or call 203-341-5128. The deadline is December 12.
Now let hosannas ring…
A recent Candlelight processional. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
Posted onDecember 24, 2013|Comments Off on All Candlelight, All The Time
The Candlelight Concert is the Staples music department’s gift to the town.
And the Staples media department’s gift is to play those concerts over WWPT-FM (90.3), during the holiday season.
From now through the end of this week, “Wrecker Radio” is presenting every Candlelight Concert, from 2001 through this year’s very rare show. (Due to snow, only one concert was performed.)
Audio production instructor Jim Honeycutt recorded the 1st show 12 years ago, with help from student Robert Anstett. This year, Alex Fasciolo helped out.
Click here to listen to the livestream of this special holiday gift.
If you were at Friday’s Candlelight Concert, you know it was one of the best in the 73 years the music department has been presenting this “gift to the town.”
If you had tickets to Saturday’s performances (or no longer live near Westport, but miss Candlelight greatly), you can only imagine what you missed.
Now — through the magic of the Staples Media Lab — you can listen to the 2013 Candlelight Concert forever. Or at least until CDs become obsolete.
Ordering info is below. But first, a back story that makes this year’s recording even more impressive.
The “Sing We Noel” processional has been part of every Candlelight Concert since 1940. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)
Since 2001, audio production teacher Jim Honeycutt has produced Candlelight CDs. It’s an arduous task, but he does it because he loves the music, the young musicians and the tradition. Proceeds help fund the Media Lab.
He and senior Alex Fasciolo began to record the CD 4 days before the Friday Candlelight Concert. The next day, they lost 4 hours of recording time when school was canceled because of snow.
Honeycutt spent the next 2 days frantically preparing the CD for sale on Friday night. He and others were in the school until 11 p.m. Thursday, mixing sound for the production number. The next day, he began burning the CDs.
It not only sounds great — Honeycutt thinks the recording is the best ever — but art student Sophia Henkels’ cover is gorgeous too.
At Friday’s concert, Honeycutt had 4 of the 2001 CDs for sale, plus others from each year since. Former students and their parents were happy to replenish their supply.
But then came Saturday’s snow. Honeycutt now has a slew of CDs — and Candlelight has a ton of fans who never heard the concert.
Click below for an 8-minute sampler — or click here if your browser does not take you directly to YouTube.
CDs are $15 each. Students can purchase them at the Staples Media Lab (Room 450, near the cafeteria). To order by mail, send a check for $15 (made out to “Staples High School”) to: Jim Honeycutt, Staples Media Lab, Staples High School, 70 North Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Please include your name, address, phone and email.
Questions? Call 203-341-1380, or email jim_honeycutt@westport.k12.ct.us
Both afternoon and evening performances of tonight’s Candlelight Concerts have been canceled, due to weather. Unfortunately, no alternate dates were available.
Fortunately, Staples audio production teacher Jim Honeycutt recorded the final rehearsal. Information on how to buy CDs — and when to listen to it on WWPT-FM — will be posted on “06880” when it is available.
For photos of last night’s performance — and a link to a video of the “Hallelujah Chorus” — click here.
If you’ve had it up the wazoo with chestnuts and the friggin’ fire — but still yearn for Christmas music — you’re in luck.
WWPT-FM (90.3 “Wrecker Radio”) is airing this year’s Candlelight Concert, now through Wednesday. You’ll hear beautiful, sophisticated music, lovingly played and sung.
As an added bonus, the Candlelight Concert alternates on WWPT with “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This “old-time radio broadcast” — a combined effort of Staples Players and the audio production class — is a must-listen, too.
Will Haskell, Keleigh Brockman and Bryan Gannon intently perform “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Not home for the holidays? No problem! Click here to listen live.
For a different Christmas sound, click here or on the YouTube link below:
It’s the Princeton Nassoons, who performed Thursday night at the Seabury Center.
Alan Southworth — a Staples grad, now president of the famed a cappella group — is shown at the beginning of the video presenting flowers to his mother, Fran. She then joins her son’s group for a lovely rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River.”
A few days ago, I posted a video of a Staples orchestra and choir rehearsal of the Hallelujah Chorus. I stood behind the strings, providing a different sound than most audiences usually hear.
Tonight — at the Candlelight Concert — I was in the middle of the alumni section. Traditionally, at the final performance, former choir members are invited onto the risers to sing the stirring finale.
As usual, dozens accepted choral director Luke Rosenberg’s invitation. Here’s the joyful result:
(If your browser does not support this link, click here for the YouTube link.)
Celebration and solemnity mixed together last night at Staples.
The high school’s 72nd annual Candlelight Concert provided not only its traditional joy, pageantry and warmth, but also a chance for Westporters to gather and reflect on the morning tragedy a few miles north in Newtown.
Principal John Dodig noted that the realization that 20 sets of parents would never again hug their children reinforced the importance of being with “the kids we love.”
Then the healing power of music began.
Choir member Michael Sixsmith was part of the always-evocative “Sing We Noel” processional. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
The Staples Choir’s rendition of “Holy Night, Silent Night” was hauntingly beautiful. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
The choir’s traditional production number included reindeer. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
Santa, elves, the choir, chorus, chorale and orchestra joined in a magnificent “Hallelujah Chorus” finale. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
New choral director Luke Rosenberg and veteran orchestra conductor Adele Valovich took bows after last night’s Candlelight Concert. Nick Mariconda’s band also played magnificently. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
From my very 1st Candlelight Concert, way back in 19whatever, I’ve been a huge fan of this Staples High School holiday tradition.
Candlelight 2011. (Photo by Lynn U. Miller)
I’ve never missed a year. And I’ve never not had goosebumps the moment the “Sing We Noel” processional begins.
But until this week, the closest I’ve gotten to the stage was singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” at the final performance with dozens of ecstatic alums.
On Thursday, I was walking in the hall behind the auditorium. Adele Valovich was rehearsing her orchestra; Luke Rosenberg’s choir was singing.
I wandered in, mesmerized. Standing behind the strings and percussion, I heard the “Hallelujah Chorus” in an entirely different way. After all those years, this remarkable work sounded more awesome than ever.
Enjoy!
(If your browser does not support YouTube directly, click here for the video. Free tickets for this year’s Candlelight Concert — Fri., Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., Sat. Dec. 15 at 2 and 8 p.m. — are available at Staples’ front desk, until 3 p.m. this week.)
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