Tag Archives: Orphenians

Roundup: Westporter Wins Miss Globe USA, Orphenians Head To Spain …

Posted on June 18, 2025 | 5 comments

Congratulations to Samantha Sarelli!

The 2019 Staples High School graduate has just been crowned Miss Globe USA. She’ll represent our country in the international Miss Globe competition.

Sam is a proud first-generation Albanian-American, with deep roots in her heritage and a strong commitment to service.

A former Miss Connecticut Teen USA, she used her platform to bring awareness to important social issues like human trafficking.

She launched a video series featuring interviews with survivors and experts, created an educational anti-trafficking program for high school students, and collaborated with nonprofits across the world as a spokesperson.

Sam is currently the president-in-training of Kaleido, a non-profit founded in 2006 with a shelter in Mexico City. She spoke at the Washington International Summit Against Trafficking, and hosted an international panel at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Sam also serves as executive director of the Albanian-American Association of Ulqin. She has hosted events on women’s empowerment, including one with the President of Kosovo.

She speaks English, Albanian and Spanish, and hopes to be an attorney.

Samantha Sarelli (Photo/Jessie Palumbo Photography)

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Staples Orphenians are in final preparations for their trip to Spain.

Before they go, they invite the public to a (free!) sendoff concert. It’s this Sunday (June 22, 3 p.m., Trinity Church, 651 Pequot Avenue, Southport). They’ll sing the repertoire they’ve prepared for overseas.

Their itinerary includes performances in Madrid and Barcelona: one at the Church of San Millan and San Cayetano, a festival with Rollo Dilworth at Basilica del Pi, and a mass and hour-long concert at La Sagrada Familia.

Spain-bound!

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Speaking of music: Nearly a decade after its start, The Cello Camp has earned a spot as a “first chair” summer program.

It was created by cellist, educator (and Staples High School graduate) Danielle Merlis.

She envisioned “a welcoming space where young cellists can connect with each other, discover the full range of what the cello can do, and grow as musicians. It’s not about perfection. It’s about curiosity, creativity, and building strong technique through high quality instruction.”

The camp includes bass players, and welcomes guest clarinetists, drummers, pianists and singers.

Sessions are August 18-23 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport, and August 11-16 in Ridgefield. For more information and to register, click here.

Having fun at The Cello Camp.

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If you’re near the Fairfield County Hunt Club now through Saturday, you’ll notice plenty of action.

The Fairfield June Horse Show began yesterday. The Heritage competition is a chance for the public to watch world-class riders — for free.

High performance show jumping includes a $5,000 Welcome Stake tomorrow (Thursday), and the $15,000 Grand Prix on Saturday (June 21, 1 p.m.).

Visitors can walk the course for the Grand Prix right before the competition, to experience the height of the fences and the technicality of the course.

Saturday is also Family Fun Day, with pony rides, face painting, crafts and more (10 a.m.).

Horse show action, at the Fairfield County Hunt Club.

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Another “Family Fun Day” takes place at Wakeman Town Farm on  July 12 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

It includes farm crafts and activities for all ages, plus visits with animals, books, hair tinsel, sunflower seed planting, a bubble show, information about bees and butterflies and music from the School of Rock.

Food (pizza, mozzarella sticks, salads, Italian ices and lemonade) is included in the ticket price.

Wakeman Town Farm will collect new diapers at the Family Fun Day. Bring as many as you can!

Click here to register, and for more information.

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Also at Wakeman Town Farm: a lecture by advanced master gardener Alice Ely on milkweed growing and monarch butterfly raising (July 14, 7 p.m.). Children and adults are welcome.

Attendees will learn how to attract egg-laying monarchs to gardens, how to raise the eggs into caterpillars and healthy adult monarchs, and tips on growing milkweed species to help them thrive.

Monarch butterfly (Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)

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After years on CBS News, Emmy Award-winning journalist — and 1988 Staples High School graduate — Jeff Pegues joins the podcast world.

“Person of Interest” debuts June 19th on the Alive Podcast network. The Juneteenth date is intentional: Alive is a Black woman-owned company.

Pegues’ podcast will be streamed on Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV. He says, “This show isn’t about sensationalism. It’s about substance.”

He will have “freedom to follow the real story, and examine the people and perspectives too often ignored by traditional media.”

ALIVE Podcast Network

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Yesterday, Westport firefighters took advantage of a special training opportunity.

At a home slated for demolition near Compo Beach, crews practiced stretching hose lines into the structure, reinforcing essential tactics in a real-world setting.

Westport Avenue training. (Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)

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Saugatuck Rowing Club’s juniors performed superbly, at the recent USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida. The event drew more than 4,000 athletes, from 230 clubs and schools.

The women’s second varsity 8+ earned a national championship. Westport athletes included coxswain Sora Yu, plus rowers Kate Weitz, Caroline Zajak, Sophie Cochran, Carolina Proctor and Mina Leon.

The men’s U17 4+ A boat also claimed gold. Westporters included Elena Nasar (coxswain), Cameron Jaffe and Otis Gotlieb. Daniel Sobel lives in Weston.

Up next: Saugatuck’s junior women head to the Henley Royal Regatta in London.

National champs! From left: Sora Yu, Mackenzie Fosdick, Kate Weitz, Grace Baker, Caroline Zajak, Phoebe Bryan, Sophie Cochran, Carolina Proctor and Mina Leon. (Photo copyright Row2K.com)

Celebrating on land. The rowers are the same as above, except coxswain Sora Yu is 5th from left.

Also champs! From left: Cameron Jaffe, Otis Gottlieb, Daniel Sobel, Samuel Turok, Elena Nasar. (Photo/Lisa Worthy)

From left: Samuel Turok, Daniel Sobel, Elena Nasar, Otis Gottlieb and Cameron Jaffe.

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Rock star/soul singer/multi-intstrumentalist Eliot Lewis — a longtime member of the Average White Band (1989-2002) and Hall & Oates’ band (2003-23) brings his many talents as a solo performer to VFW Post 399 on June 27 (7 p.m.).

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Click here to purchase.‘

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Speaking of the VFW: Trumpeter Frank London is a master of old and new jazz, swing, bop, klezmer, gympic, Baltic, Cuban, West African — and many other — music genres.

Diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer, Lonson recently released “Spirit Stronger Than Blood,” as a celebration of life. He has gained the upper hand, and is once again touring the world.

Tomorrow (Thursday), he’ll headline Jazz at the Post (VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner at 7; $20 music charge, $15 for veterans and students).

London will be joined by Roberta Piket (piano), Hilliard Greene (bass), Avram Feffer (saxophone) and Greg Borrows (drums). Click here for tickets, and more information.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo — and nature lesson — come from Lou Weinberg.

(Photo/Lou Weinberg)

He writes: “Adult catbirds feed their young a diet of spiders and insects, primarily. As young catbirds get older, adults introduce berries to their diet.

“Catbirds are related to mockingbirds, and are well versed at the art of mimicry.  Their most famous call sounds like a cat’s meow.

“This is the season when many native and migrant birds care for their fledglings.

“Green open spaces are essentially ‘all you can eat buffets’ for birds raising their young, as they harbor large populations of insects, spiders, worms and other invertebrates.

“Westport continues to see a decline in tree cover and green open space, unfortunately. The most recent example is the town’s decision to clear cut and bulldoze 4 acres (the Long Lots Preserve around the Westport Community Gardens) that is a model of biodiversity.

“Increasingly, and sadly, nature loses.”

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Finally … in honor of The Cello Camp (story above):

(From a pageant queen and a horse show, to rowers and a podcaster, “06880” is today — and every day — where Westport meets the world. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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George Barrett: CEO Rediscovers His Musical Roots

Posted on December 14, 2023 | 4 comments

George Barrett accomplished lots in life. He played varsity soccer at Brown University, taught at Horace Mann, and was CEO of a Fortune 25 company.

But in 2016, he had a chance to play with The Who’s Roger Daltrey.

“Finally, I felt like I was home again,” says the 1973 Staples High School graduate.

As CEO of Cardinal Health — the Ohio-based multinational distributor of pharmaceuticals, medical  and lab products — Barrett often traveled with his guitar.

But, the former Orphenian — who had sung professionally in New York, and considered a musical career — said, “I was hesitant to perform in public. I didn’t know how that would be seen.”

The Daltrey gig — at a company event — was a turning point. “People saw a side of me they hadn’t known,” Barrett says.

Encouraged, he began performing with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and jazz and chamber groups.

Now — at the age of 68 — he’s released his first record. Fittingly, it’s a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer/composer/arranger — and 1971 Staples grad — Brian Keane.

George Barrett (Photo/David McClister)

Barrett and Keane first met playing youth sports in Westport. Now, at Keane’s Monroe studio — and with an all-star band of musicians and backup singers — they’re together again.

Barrett and his 4 siblings — all musically talented — were part of a noted local family. His father Herb was a psychologist; his mother Lou was a Staples High School English teacher and poet.

George Barrett, Staples basketball star.

Barrett grew up as both a musician and athlete. Starring in soccer, basketball and baseball at Staples, he was always encouraged seeing Orphenians director George Weigle — with whom he toured Europe — at his games.

“No one forced me to make a choice. I was celebrated for doing both music and sports,” he says. He felt similarly supported at Brown, where Barrett — whose parents had helped build Temple Israel — moonlighted singing in church choirs.

After college he taught history and music, and coached soccer and baseball, at Horace Mann, the prestigious New York prep school. Meanwhile, he played music in Greenwich Village clubs like the Bitter End, did session work and recorded jingles.

“It was a crazy life,” he notes.

But while he loved “the music part of business” — being on stage — he did not enjoy other aspects. Offered a chance to move to Los Angeles, as part of the late-’70s soft rock scene, he said no.

A series of unexpected events — including going into business with his then-wife’s family — led to a career he’d never envisioned: pharmaceuticals. The dual history and music major had taken only one business course at Brown, but he earned an MBA at New York University.

The small family business exposed him to everything. Ten years later, Barrett ran the firm.

It was then acquired by a company in Norway. The CEO asked him to run its American subsidiary, in Baltimore.

Barrett was 34 years old. He “learned to lead” from older employees. “They gave me a great gift,” he says.

In 1998 he began running US operations for Israel-based Teva, the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs. Eight years later he was offered its CEO spot. But instead of relocating to Israel, he joined Cardinal Health, an American firm, as vice chairman. Two years later, he was named CEO.

Barrett calls his decade there “an incredible experience. I worked with great people. It was a blessing.”

Yet all along, music was never far from his heart. So despite his post-Cardinal Health work — teaching at the Columbia University School of Public Health and NYU Business School, policy work in Washington, consulting, and board work with Brown, the Business Roundtable and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — when he was looking for a second (okay, fifth or sixth) act, he asked Keane for an honest assessment.

Brian Keane

They talked, played and made a demo tape.

“I think there’s something there,” Keane said.

That was all Barrett needed to hear.

Tapping into Keane’s vast network of musical contacts, Barrett worked on an album. His goal was to cross genres and age brackets.

A year and a half later, “Not Alone” has just been released. There’s a single from the album too — and a video.

“It feels like a rebirth,” says Barrett, of his first time back in a studio in decades. “I’m hearing my music now — with real horns and guitars and backup singers — the way I was hearing it in my head. Everyone has been sensational.”

The response from fellow musicians has been important. He recorded with, among others, jazz legends Cyrus Chestnut and Eddie Gomez, Billy Drummond, Dave Mann, Joe Bonadillo, “Saturday Night Live” drummer Sean Pelton — and his brother, cellist Dan Barrett.

Keane accompanied Barrett on guitar. Backup singers toured with Bruce Springsteen.

“I had been away from that community for so long. I was wondering: Am I a businessman with a hobby, or a real musician? Their welcome was very gratifying,” Barrett says.

“Not Alone” has been released on all platforms. It crosses genres: Americana, bluegrass, gospel, country, blues, classical, rock, funk and jazz. Most of the songs were written by Barrett, though it includes Richard Rodgers covers.

Barrett does not want to be known as “the singing business guy.” He hopes his music “speaks for itself, and for me — organically and gently.”

Though he’s never been active on social media, he now has a music website, an Instagram and a Facebook page. “That’s another learning experience,” he laughs.

Speaking of learning: At 68, does Barrett see his age as a deterrent?

“It’s less about age, than stage of life,” he counters. “If I was younger, I might do a national tour. But I’ll just perform selectively now.”

Still, he is “as excited and enthusiastic as when I was 24. I enjoy music as much as I ever did.”

Keane and Barrett have talked about performing in Westport. His ties here remain strong. “When I sit at the bench at the beach dedicated to my parents, my youth comes flooding back,” Barrett says.

That youth includes playing at long-gone venues like Grassroots, on Post Road West just over the bridge.

“You don’t realize until you leave just how special this community is,” says Barrett.

It’s a community where the artist who just released “Not Alone” grew up.

And never felt alone.

(Click here for “Not Alone,” on a variety of streaming platforms. Click here for George Barrett’s music website.))

(“06880” often chronicles the intriguing lives of talented Staples High School graduates. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Young Artists Create Yard Signs, Videos

Posted on March 24, 2021 | 1 comment

On Monday, April 5, the Coleytown Elementary School lawn will be decorated with yard signs. They’re the work of students, showcasing the diverse arts and music they’ve been studying for months.

Coleytown Elementary School yard sign,

The next day — Tuesday, April 6 — different signs will appear at Greens Farms Elementary. Over the next 3 days they’ll be posted at Kings Highway, Long Lots and Saugatuck. Then, look for them around town, in more public spaces like Town Hall and the Riverwalk.

Greens Farms Elementary School yard sign.

The yard signs are just one element of the “Westport Youth Arts Collaborative: America’s Voices” project. It’s a robust successor to the beloved — but far more limited — Youth Concerts of years past.

Saugatuck Elementary School yard sign.

Those events introduced elementary schoolers to the high school music program. There were themes — Disney movies, for example — and more recently, tie-ins with countries like India and China, as part of the district’s Global Initiatives plan.

This year’s Youth Arts Collaborative focuses on American musicians — and artists. The goal is to celebrate not only our artistic diversity, but also that of Westport’s elementary school youngsters. Students created the signs, using their own words and images to highlight their own special backgrounds.

Long Lots Elementary School yard sign.

Along with the artwork, each school will air a special video, produced by Ryan Smith (the mastermind behind Staples High School’s virtual Candlelight Concert last December).

A variety of Staples groups — the Amati and Stradivarius chamber orchestras, chamber winds, jazz ensemble and Orphenians — recorded performances earlier this month.

Recording the Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra at Staples. (Photo/Brandon Malin)

The videos will include one of the high school ensembles; artwork from children at that elementary school, and “family folk songs.” They come from around the globe. All were coordinated by Candi Innaco.

“There’s an amazing diversity of backgrounds in Westport,” says townwide arts coordinator Steve Zimmerman. “The kids were really excited to show off their families.”

The Youth Arts Collaborative is a huge undertaking. It’s taken months of preparation. When it’s over, students who created their yard signs will keep them (and hopefully repost them in their own yards). Videos and art projects will be available through their school’s websites.

Kings Highway Elementary School yard sign.

For years, the Youth Concert inspired elementary schoolers to play music — and keep playing as they moved through middle school and Staples.

This new project will do even more for young musicians and artists. “America’s Voices” will soon be Westport’s own.

Staples High School has a yard sign too.

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Pop! Go The Concerts

Posted on June 14, 2018 | 1 comment

If you missed last Friday’s Staples High School concert, you weren’t alone. Tickets went faster than “Springsteen on Broadway” (and, being free, for a lot less cash).

But you don’t have to wait a year for the next one.

Here, thanks to the indefatigable Jim Honeycutt, is the entire show.

The symphonic band and orchestra, jazz band and choral group Orphenians — they’re all here.

So is a special tribute to retiring orchestra director Adele Valovich. The show is narrated by actor/director James Naughton.

Bravo!

BONUS REEL: As if that’s not enough, here’s the recent spring concert, featuring Nick Mariconda’s Staples jazz band, and their Bedford Middle School counterparts, led by Gregg Winters.

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Staples Sings With One Voice

Posted on May 24, 2018 | 4 comments

Staples High School’s many choral ensembles — male, female, mixed, from freshmen through elite Orphenians — came together last Friday for a special “One Voice Concert for Unity.”

They sang by themselves and together. There were featured solos, and soaring, intricate group selections. Orphenians performed 2 pieces by Jake Runestad, the heralded composer whose work they’ll showcase this summer in Australia.

And there was a compelling rendition of “Tell My Father,” Sullivan Ballou’s tender Civil War letter to his wife, put to music.

It was an outstanding evening. Just when you think choral director Luke Rosenberg and our town’s teenagers can’t set the bar higher — they do.

(Hat tip: Jim Honeycutt, videographer)

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Joy!

Posted on December 23, 2016 | 5 comments

What happens when a bunch of Staples High School Orphenian graduates — now in college — get together for a multi-generational holiday party, at a beautiful, historic Westport home?

Just watch!

I filmed this last night in Rondi Charleston and Steve Ruchefsky’s wonderful parlor. Staples choral director Luke Rosenberg joins in. And yes, that’s Tony Award winner Jim Naughton making an appearance too.

The video quality is not great. But the music way more than makes up for it.

En-joy!

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Musica Caliente!

Posted on May 19, 2016 | 1 comment

On Friday, Staples High School’s Orphenians, A Cappella Choir, Chorus and Chorale presented more than a dozen songs from places near the equator: Brazil, Bali, India, Puerto Rico, Haiti, East Africa.

“¡Musica Caliente!” was the latest in an extraordinary series of gifts from the music department to the town.

If you missed it, no hay problema. Staples’ indefatigable Media Lab co-director Jim Honeycutt taped and edited the entire show. Now “06880” readers can enjoy it all.

NOTE: The first number is not a traditional “song.” But it does show the amazing sounds choral director Luke Rosenberg elicits from his teenage singers.

If your browser does not take you directly to YouTube, click here.

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A Gift For Luke Rosenberg

Posted on May 14, 2016 | 6 comments

Last night’s “¡Musica Caliente!” concert was stunning.

Staples High School’s Orphenians, A Cappella Choir, Chorus and Chorale presented more than a dozen songs from places near the equator — Brazil, Bali, India, Puerto Rico, Haiti, East Africa — that were extraordinarily difficult to sing, beautiful in vastly different ways, and inspiringly presented.

It was a superb evening. But the highlight came after choral director Luke Rosenberg spoke movingly of his many seniors — the 1st class he’s seen all the way through Staples, since arriving 4 years ago.

Each senior described where he or she is going to college. Some are studying voice or musical theater; others will become engineers, journalists or psychologists. One hopes to enter the Marines.

Then the seniors announced a gift. They stood on the risers and sang “Dominus Vobiscum” by Sydney Guillaume, the Haitian composer whose “Tap Tap” they had already performed to thunderous applause.

Luke Rosenberg (left) listens to his graduating seniors sing.

Luke Rosenberg (left) listens to his graduating seniors sing.

The soon-to-be-graduates had chosen the piece, rehearsed it, and nailed it — all on their own.

That’s the greatest gift any educator ever gets.

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Warmth Of The Season

Posted on December 12, 2015 | Comments Off on Warmth Of The Season

Santa brought his sleigh carriage to Main Street today.

He was headed here with reindeer, but the Texas-like temperatures forced the  switch to horses.

Horse carriage - Main Street Christmas 2015

Out in force too were Orphenians, Staples’ elite singing group. They donned their gay apparel — sweaters, scarves and caps — just for show. It was warm.

But you can’t keep a good rendition of “Jingle Bells” down.

After which, a few of director Luke Rosenberg’s carolers hopped in Santa’s carriage for a musical ride.

It’s all a warm-up for next weekend’s Candlelight Concert.

And we do mean warm-up.

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Posted in Arts, Downtown, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Orphenians Rock Yankee Stadium

Posted on June 23, 2015 | 17 comments

It’s been quite a year for the Staples Orphenians.

In March they traveled to — and wowed — San Francisco, as part of the prestigious Chanticleer festival.

Tonight they did the same at Yankee Stadium.

Choral director Luke Rosenberg directs the Orphenians at Yankee Stadium. (Photo/New York Yankees)

Choral director Luke Rosenberg directs the Orphenians at Yankee Stadium. (Photo/New York Yankees)

They had to wait out an hour-and-20-minute rain delay — hey, that’s show biz — but when they finally stood at home plate, they delivered a strong, sophisticated and inspiring rendition of our national anthem.

The largest crowd ever to watch the Orphenians perform gave them a loud, well-deserved hand.

Best of all, they made it onto the Jumbotron.

For the Yankees’ official high-def video, click here.

For Jim Honeycutt’s video — including scenes of the Orphenians greeting Jimmy Fallon and Lorne Michaels before they leave the field — click here:

To see Kim Mathias’ video, click below (or here, if your browser does not take you directly to YouTube):

To see Chip Stephens’ video, click below (or here, if your browser does not take you directly to YouTube):

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