Student Spotlight
Student Spotlight – Andrew Sokol – Canzone per Nana
I could not be more proud or inspired by tenor Andrew Sokol’s concert this afternoon, entitled “Canzone per Nana”. The program consisted entirely of Italian/Neapolitan songs (15 total, plus an encore), and was dedicated to the grandmother of Andrew’s partner Alyssa, a native Italian who loved Andrew’s tenor voice. Now, when we started working and…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Michael Jackson AKA Sam Meade
Our darling Sam is slightly shifting his goals in Hollywood. Here is the latest: “The dream’s alive, just shifted. Learned I don’t enjoy acting nearly as much as I enjoy singing [NOTE: this makes Janice very happy!]…so spending my time on my voice lessons…which have been really amazing, I can sing a high C comfortably [say WHAT?]. Decided to…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Madison Finocchiaro – Les MisĂ©rables
Ovation Theatre Company opened its premiere season in splendid form with “Les MisĂ©rables School Edition” on Friday, May 24th. The all-student ensemble was perfectly cast. My student Madison Finocchiaro was suitably slovenly and greedy as the wicked Madame Thernadier. I am so proud of Madison whose vocalism and especially her acting were spot on…she never…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Max Orio – South Pacific
Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, NH presented this weekend Rogers & Hammerstein’s classic musical “South Pacific.” There were 2 casts, and my student, baritone Max Orio, was cast as Emile DeBeque. Max and I have worked on Emile’s gorgeous songs (“Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine”, among others) for several months and…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Madison Finocchiaro – Singin’ in the Rain
Pinkerton Academy’s recent production of the musical based on this classic movie was a huge success the weekend of March 22-24. Madison appeared as Lady –in-Waiting in the ensemble. The director was Rachael Longo and Music Director was Candace Gatzoulis – my former student AND a former Miss New Hampshire. “Watch this space” for a…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Janet Wittenberg, Nashua Choral Society
Janet Wittenberg will be a featured soloist in the “Domine Jesu Christe” movement of Mozart’s Requiem. This monumental oratorio will be presented by the Nashua Choral Society jointly with the Granite State Choral Society, conducted by Ann Watson Born. Performances are on May 5 at 3:00 PM in Nashua at Immaculate Conception Church and May 18 at 7:30…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Cantor Shira Nafshi, Temple Beth Jacob
Temple Beth Jacob’s Purim Spiel Another of my talented students, Shira Nafshi, serves as Cantor at Temple Beth Jacob in Concord, NH. One of the more interesting aspects of TBJ is their annual event called Purim Spiel (pronounced “shpeel”). The Purim Spiel is an annual fundraiser for TBJ. It was started in 1998, and has a…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight: Max Orio
Spring of 2019 brings much to be proud of, with my talented students participating in both musical theatre and community chorus events. First… On May 4th and 5th, Timberlane Regional High School presents Rogers & Hammerstein’s classic musical, South Pacific. My student, baritone Max Orio, is double-cast as Emile DeBeque in Timberlane’s fully staged production,…
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