34th Annual Naugatuck Public School Music Festival - A Recap

The 34th Annual Naugatuck Public Schools Borough Music Festival was held on Friday evening in the Pomperaug High School Auditorium. The annual tradition was moved out of town this year due to the construction heading toward completion at Naugatuck High School. The ‘Borofest’ will return to the high school next year when the concert will alternate to instrumental music in our schools.

Salem School Principal and music department supervisor Jennifer Kruge indicated in her opening remarks that the principal of Pomperaug, Mr. Glenn Lungarini, generously allowed the music department to use the high school and it’s facilities free of charge. While any other group would probably have been charged a fee for the use of the auditorium, it was a very classy gesture for Mr. Lungarini to allow a district in need of a suitable venue to use the high school. I recently attended Pomperaug’s marvelous ‘Little Women’ that was presented in the school’s auditorium, so I knew that the acoustics would be good and that there would be ample seating for everyone.

Mrs. Kruge also thanked every music teacher in the borough by name for all their hard work throughout the school year. She thanked the members of the Board of Education, (all of whom were invited to attend) for their support, especially for the school buses that took students to several rehearsals for the festival, as well as two buses provided on Friday to take families to the out-of-town venue. Family members came out in force to enjoy the one hour concert for which every student had memorized their music.

The evening began with the youngest students, fourth graders selected to sing in the youth choir. Elementary music teacher Emanuel Arboleda conducted “Don’t Let the Music Stop” by Eugene Butler and Alice Unschuld came onstage to conduct “Dansi Na Kuimba” by D. and J. Perry, while Mr. Arboleda accompanied the students on a African drum. Staff Accompanist Chris Dabbo played piano for both numbers. The elementary students gave a very enthusiastic performance to an appreciative audience.

Next up was the Cambiata Choir consisting of students from grades five and six. Middle school teacher Michele Beck conducted the talented students for an innovative piece entitled “Do I Hear You Gossiping” by Greg Gilpin and student Emily Kropo accompanied them beautifully on the piano while Mr. Dabbo turned the pages of her score. Congratulations to Miss Kropo on a fine performance. The intermediate school singers continued with “Deep in the Meadow” arranged by Mac Huff and “El Vito” in Spanish arranged by Emily Crocker, both conducted by middle school music teacher Kathy Lungarini.

The Naugatuck High School Chamber Singers took to the stage in their tuxedos and long black dresses. The newest members of the by-audition group had not yet been fitted with their uniforms, but joined the group for this performance. High School music teacher Mahlon Peterson directed the group for their three a cappella numbers, “Mata Del Amina Sola” by Antonio Estevez with a chill inducing solo by Kaylin Spaulding, “Set Me As a Seal” by Rene Clausen, and the spiritual “Ain’-a That Good News” by William L. Dawson.

The Concert Choir, made up of most of the Chamber Singers and selected students in grade seven through 12, performed three numbers. Ms. Beck returned to the stage to direct “Gloria Festiva” by Emily Krocker. Mr. Peterson conducted “Dirait-on” by M.J. Lauridsen and “Neighbor’s Chorus” by Jacques Offenbach. While this was NHS band teacher Robert Hughes “year off” from the festival, he was on hand to help make sure everything ran smoothly, as were music teachers Robert Trosan, Jennifer Fatone, and Lisa Pettinicchi.

As a finale, almost every one of the over 300 studenst that had participated in the festival came back on the stage to perform Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” arranged by Jay Althouse. Ms. Lungarini directed this showstopper and featured soloist Aaron Newman and Katie Brodeur. The stage was filled with a huge number of joyful singers for this final number.

Mr. Peterson announced that the Wendy Ruggeri Scholarship will be awarded this year to NHS senior Kaylin Spaulding, who plans to study music when she attends college in the fall. The scholarship named for the beloved and long-time high school accompanist is $400. Congratulations to Ms. Spaulding on this well-deserved honor.

Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locke sat in the front row to enjoy the concert and the hands on educator even helped to clear the tape that saved seats for the youngest students to sit in while they awaited their final number. The program thanked her and all the school administrators and teachers for making the Borough Music Festival possible.