Staples High School Candlelight Concert Again Delights Sellout Crowds

December 19, 2022 J.C. Martin

One of Westport's most cherished holiday traditions, the Staples High Music program's Candlelight Concert took place on Friday and Saturday to the usual sell-out crowd for all three shows.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The annual Staples Candlelight concerts, a tradition spanning 82 years, showcased the exceptional musical talent of Westport's high school students, led by conductors Luke Rosenberg, Carrie Mascaro, Jeri Hockensmith, and Philip Giampietro pictured above.

The performances began with the recitation of the "Winter Song," a newly composed piece by Westport's Poet Laureate, Jessica Noyes McEntee. The Staples Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Choral Ensembles then took to the stage to perform a variety of Candlelight favorites, including the opening "Sing We Noel" and the grand finale, Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," which featured the participation of over 50 music department alumni. The program also included Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" ("Trepak" and "Waltz of the Flowers"), music from the film "Home Alone" by John Williams, and the showcase piece "Jubilate Deo" by Dan Forrest. In addition, the chorus sang the unaccompanied "Shalom!," junior and senior choral members presented a comedic production directed by Don Rickenback, and small student ensembles performed self-arranged holiday hits, including a jazz sextet and a vocal duet accompanied by guitar on "Winter Wonderland."

Stephen Zimmerman, Music and Visual Arts Coordinator for the Westport Public Schools system said, "Following last year's concert, which introduced a new element of collaboration, this year's performance was carefully planned by the teachers over the course of nearly a year, showcasing their extraordinary effort, exemplary musicianship, and creativity. The collaboration brought together students from different musical groups and ensembles to create a cohesive show, adding an exciting new dimension to the already highly anticipated annual event. As a witness to the hard work and talent of the students and teachers, I am extremely proud of their efforts and have received an amazing response from parents and community members."

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.