Tag Archives: Staples High School music department

Even The Birds Loved Tonight’s Pops Concert

Posted on June 9, 2016 | 4 comments

Check out this great view of the 1st-ever Staples High School Pops Concert at Levitt Pavilion, courtesy of Brandon Malin’s drone. (Click on or hover over to enlarge — you’ll love it!)

Click on or hover over to enlarge. (Photo/Brandon Malin)

(Photo/Brandon Malin)

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Pops Goes The Concert

Posted on June 9, 2016 | 3 comments

It took just 3 hours for the public to snap up all 1,600 tickets for tonight’s 1st-ever Staples High School Pops Concert.

And the crowd — old, young, Levitt Pavilion regulars and those who’ve never been to Westport’s riverside amphitheater — were not disappointed.

The orchestra, jazz band and choral groups — hundreds of very talented musicians — made this a (windy) night to remember.

Next year, the tickets will be snagged in a lot less than 3 hours.

Every inch of the lawn was filled, as the Staples orchestra welcomed Westporters to the 1st-ever Pops Concert.

Every inch of the Levitt Pavilion lawn was filled, as the Staples orchestra welcomed Westporters to the 1st-ever Pops Concert.

Dueling violinists.

Dueling violins.

Emcee -- and Tony Award winner -- Jim Naughton took a turn on the triangle.

Emcee — and 2-time Tony Award winner — Jim Naughton took a turn on the triangle.

The sun glints off the Levitt Pavilion pavilion, as the jazz band plays.

The sun glints off the Levitt Pavilion pavilion, as the jazz band plays.

Three Orphenians hang out, before they're called.

Three Orphenians hang out, before they’re called.

First Selectman Jim Marpe (far left) was part of the enormous crowd at tonight's Staples High Pops Concert.

First Selectman Jim Marpe (far left) was part of the enormous crowd at tonight’s Staples High School Pops Concert.

Orchestra leader Adele Valovich and choral director Luke Rosenberg address the audience.

Orchestra leader Adele Valovich and choral director Luke Rosenberg greet the audience.

The 1st-ever Staples Pops Concert was fun for all ages. (All photos/Dan Woog -- click on or hover over any photo to enlarge.)

The 1st-ever Staples Pops Concert was fun for all ages. (All photos/Dan Woog — click on or hover over any photo to enlarge.)

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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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Candlelight Concert Tickets Now Available — Special 75th Anniversary Edition!

Posted on November 9, 2015 | 6 comments

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

But there is a free Candlelight Concert. The catch: You have to order tickets now.

This year’s 75th annual holiday event will be a classic. Special guests with long ties to the Staples High School music department have been invited. And a special alumni reception is planned prior to the last of 3 performances — the traditional “alumni show.”

Candlelight is set for Friday, December 18 (8 p.m.), and Saturday, December 19 (2 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

Candlelight logoGeneral admission tickets are available by mail. They must be postmarked by Wednesday, December 11 — but he who hesitates may not be singing “Hallelujah.” Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and the ticket order form (click here) to: Candlelight Tickets, Staples High School, 70 North Avenue, Westport, CT 06880.

The alumni gala (Saturday, December 19, 5-7 p.m., Westport Inn) includes a reserved seat to the concert, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, an exhibit of photos and posters since the 1950s, 75th Candlelight logowear and a 4-CD set of recordings of concerts from the ’50s to the present.

All proceeds help celebrate Staples High School music. To purchase tickets, select the button to the left. Click here for alumni gala ltickets and more information.

Now let hosannas ring…

(For 75 years, the Candlelight Concert has been presented as a gift to Westport. However, tax-deductible contributions made out to “Staples HS Music” are gratefully accepted, and may be sent along with ticket requests. To advertise in the Candlelight program book, click here. For the main Candlelight website, click here. And search “SHS Candlelight 75th Anniversary” on Facebook for an event page.)

The "Sing We Noel" processional -- a part of every Candlelight Concert since 1940. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

The “Sing We Noel” processional — a part of every Candlelight Concert since 1940. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

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For Your Viewing Pleasure

Posted on November 4, 2015 | 1 comment

There’s a lot to see and hear in Westport. No one can do it all.

But if you missed 2 recent Staples High School-related events, YouTube can help.

A couple of weeks ago, the music department presented a fantastic concert: “The Art of Folk Music.” One audience member said “it equaled or surpassed many a NYC production.”

To hear Luke Rosenberg’s superb choral groups, click below:

Last week, David Roth’s Theater 3 acting class and Jim Honeycutt’s audio production class collaborated on a WWPT-FM live radio broadcast of “Dracula.” It was just like 1939: the Orson Welles Mercury Theater original script, period commercials, sound effects, the challenge of conveying a story completely with actors’ voices and sound effects.

The media lab shot the show. Here you go:

Enjoy!

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Folk Music Returns To Staples

Posted on October 19, 2015 | 4 comments

I seldom publicize Staples High School concerts. The quality of the choral groups, orchestras and bands is superb. But parents know all about the events, and they make up much of the appreciative audiences.

This Wednesday though (October 21, 7:30 p.m., Staples auditorium, free admission), there’s a choral concert that should not be missed.

Director Luke Rosenberg’s various choirs will perform “The Art of Folk Music.” Featuring American, Irish and Scottish songs, it promises to be a wonderful night.

Rosenberg explains, “Traditionally, folk music has been sung as a means of celebration, praise, mourning, or to express love or affection.

Choral director Luke Rosenberg in action. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

Choral director Luke Rosenberg in action. (Photo/Lynn U. Miller)

“To me it made perfect sense to put together a choral concert that both celebrates our own music of yesterday and that of our friends across the Atlantic, as well as give our students a chance to gain a new understanding of past culture, while keeping these treasured tunes alive within the voices and hearts of our youth.”

Earlier this fall, when the singers first received their music, the response was mixed. Some loved the selections and theme; others were skeptical.

It did not take long, Rosenberg said, for all to enjoy learning about “these musical treasures from the past. They’ve embraced the idea of using different styles of vocal production, to create the sound appropriate for each song.”

Highlights of the concert include arrangements of well-known tunes like “Shenandoah” and “Danny Boy,” along with lesser-known titles like “The Crawdad Song” and “Fionnghuala.”

If you’ve ever seen a Luke Rosenberg concert, you’ll know to expect the unexpected — and be wowed.

If you’ve never been to one: You have no idea what you’re missing.

Folk music poster

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Candlelight Concert Countdown Begins

Posted on September 18, 2015 | 2 comments

Staples High School has many storied traditions. But none may be as venerable or beloved as the Candlelight Concert.

This December marks its 75th anniversary. Immediately after last year’s performances, the music department started planning this year’s celebration of that milestone.

There will be a special alumni show, with a pre-concert reception; a fantastic video; a collage wall; special appearances by noted graduates, and much more.

A Facebook page helps alums and interested others keep track of it all. It will include videos and recordings of long-ago concerts. Just search Facebook for “SHS Candlelight 75th Anniversary.”

Then start humming “Sing We Noel,” and get ready for December 18 and 19.

(The music department also seeks old photos, for publicity posters and the collage wall. Scan them at 600 dpi, and send to avalovich@westport.k12.ct.us. That’s also the general contact email for Candlelight’s 75th anniversary.)

Candlelight logo

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Tickling New Ivories

Posted on December 4, 2010 | 30 comments

You may not notice the piano at Staples’ Candlelight Concerts next weekend — but the singers and musicians sure will.

A fund drive to raise $30,000 for a new Yamaha C3 grand piano — in honor of now-retired choral director Alice Lipson — has borne fruit.  The old one was used for every Candlelight Concert, musical performance, Players production and — for good measure, music class — for years.  It played out its string.

Dave DeVoll (center) and Fran Southworth present the new piano to David Winer, townwide music supervisor.

Fran Southworth and Dave DeVoll headed up a Staples Music Parents Association fundraising effort.  “We desperately need a new piano!” is not an easy sell, but the money finally came in.

The final piece was a luncheon/recital in late September.  Westporter Frederic Chiu — a nationally renowned classical pianist — was the featured performer.

Buying a grand piano is a bit more intricate than a scarf, or even an SUV.  The instrument needed custom voicing work done at the New York factory.  With tone quality regulated and improved, the new piano is now up to professional concert level.

This far exceeds the average “educational” piano found in most schools.  Then again, the Staples music program far exceeds the average too.

A humidifier system has been installed in the piano — very important, during the dry days of winter.

The piano debuts next Friday and Saturday (Dec. 10 and 11), at the Candlelight Concerts.  This is the 70th anniversary of that prestigious event.

With luck — and loving care — Staples’ grand piano will be around for 69 more.

(Anyone [including non-parents] interested in joining the Staples Music Parents Association should email shsmpa@aol.com, and/or go to the next meeting:  Tuesday, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. in the Staples orchestra room.)

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