Jessica Parillo ’18
EE Opinions Editor
On the night of Wednesd May 18th, the Trumbull High School choirs performed their spring concert in the auditorium.
Under the direction of Ms. Anne Tornillo, the concert showcased 5 choirs and 22 songs, featuring over 160 students.
Starting the show off on a high note was the Concert Choir, whose song selection highlighted such pieces as “Gloria,” composed by Linda Spevacek, and “Amani,” which was sung in Swahili and performed with a djembe accompaniment played by junior Alexandra Dima.
Performing next was the Freshman Choir, who showcased four songs. Two of these pieces, titled “Shenandoah” and “Ordinary Miracle,” featured four freshmen as soloists.
Following, the Women’s and Men’s Ensembles delighted the audience with four vocal pieces each. The women featured such songs as “Lineage,” an earthy piece about one’s heritage, and “Hope is the Breath of Music,” complete with stunning oboe accompaniment provided by senior Matthew Buckwald. Audience favorites for Men’s Ensemble included “Sinner Man” by Kenneth Riggs and a 50’s style doo-wop piece entitled “Since I Don’t Have You,” complete with choreography and falsetto.
Performing last was the elite Trumbull High School Chamber Singers, whose repertoire included “Exsultate Justi,” as well as a haunting gospel melody titled “Wade in the Water” which featured soloists Greg McKeon and Michael Lepore.
Concluding the evening was a combined performance of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” in which all current singers and alumni gathered on the stage for a grand finale. This has become a tradition of the THS Choirs that marks the end of another year of performances.
The night was certainly a special one, especially to choir members belonging to the graduating class of 2016. All seniors were recognized for their contributions and participation in the choral program and were treated to a reception in their honor following the performance. These seniors will walk away with four years worth of cherished memories, including eight school performances and two major trips.
Seniors as well as underclassmen traveled to Louisiana this past April to perform their vocal selections in the musical city of New Orleans. In addition to being able to explore and discover the city, the choir had the opportunity to share their music with audiences at Loyola University, the World War II Museum, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Overall, this year has been a busy one for students involved in the choir with a multitude of traveling and performing opportunities. They would like to thank Ms. Tornillo for all of her hard work and dedication to the group, and they look forward to making more music next year.