Recognized these fellow band geeks from 1981?
Band students in 1981. Contributed photo, John Bologna.
Rob Mathes, GHS 1981, on state at the new performing arts center at GHS, Oct. 7, 2015. Students in the combined choirs, symphony orchestra and wind ensemble performed his original composition, “Can You Hear Me?” Credit: Leslie Yager
Wednesday night’s Grand Opening Concert at the Greenwich High School Performing Arts Center drew an enormous crowd. After remarks from Dr. Winters, Dr. McKersie, the First Selectman Peter Tesei, Board of Ed chair Barbara O’Neill, musical theater teacher Patty Cirigliano, and building committee chair Joe Ross, the ribbon cutting was carried out by GHS students Spencer, Joe and Alexis.
The building committee members were honored for having persevered for many years. Dr. McKersie thanked Joe Ross, Jacqueline Welsh, Sandy Waters, Leslie Tarkington, Leslie Cooper, Leslie Moriarty, Laura Erickson, Adriana Ospina, Bob Brady, Genny Krob and Aris Crist.
The concert featured “When You Believe,” sung by members of Chorale and Concert Choir. Patty Cirigliano’s musical theater students performed “Mooning/We Go Together,” from Grease, which was performed last May in the “old” auditorium. The Symphony Orchestra performed “PointLookout,” and the Madrigals and Witchmen both sang from the wings, demonstrating the magnificent acoustics of the performing arts center.
After a showing of electronic music on the big screen, with GHS electronic music students’ works filling the space, the Chamber Singers and Wind Ensemble performed.
The finale was an original composition from Rob Mathes, who was a band student at GHS in the class of 1981. The composition, “Can You Hear Me?” featured the combined choirs, symphony orchestra and wind ensemble.
GHS students cut the ribbon at the grand opening concert in the GHS Performing Arts Center, Oct. 7, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager
Ribbon Cutting. Photo contributed, Lisa Bologna
Designed by Perkins+Will to meet LEED Silver standards, the 35,000 square foot Performing Arts Center, which features a tiered, 1,325-seat multi-purpose auditorium, will support musical and dramatic theater, choral, band and orchestra groups, dance performances, and movie and speaker presentations. The PAC also includes an orchestra pit, a set design room, green room, two dressing rooms, piano, prop and costume storage rooms, and a large galleria entrance. The new building is fully WiFi enabled.
The Performing Arts Center is designed to provide a more flexible, multipurpose space appropriate for the high school, improve acoustics, and meet State guidelines on seating capacity.
At a rehearsal for the GHS spring musical, Grease, last May, left to right: Davyd Suber Jr. (choreographer), Scott Borowka (technical director) and Patty Cirigliano (director). Credit: Leslie Yager
Lest we forget, the “old” auditorium where decades of seasonal and holiday concerts took pace, where future husbands and wives met during SRO, where spring musicals were performed, and theater techies cut their teeth. And though regulars learned to reserve a seat in the back row, what’s important was that they were regulars.
It will be much appreciated if the crowds who turned out for Wednesday night’s official grand opening concert continue to support the GHS music and theater arts students, both in the black box theater and the performing arts center.
Genny Krob received acknowledgement from the building committee, teachers, administration, and a standing ovation from the audience in the new performing arts center at GHS, Oct. 7, 2015. Credit: Leslie Yager
See also:
Rob Mathes Reflects on His GHS Band Roots, Music Teachers Who Were “Towering Figures in My Life”
PHOTOS: Tremendous Talent on Display in GHS Spring Musical, “Grease”
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