Two events this weekend brought home how talented are the youth of our community.
Greenwich High School produced "Rent", the bohemian musical set in the height of the aids epidemic. Directed by Patty Cirigliano, the GHS students excelled in taking on this edgy musical which many high schools would hesitate to undertake. Loosely based on Puccini's "La Boheme" with songs like "Seasons of Love" and, my personal favorite, "La Vie Boheme", the play resonates with teenagers and exposes them to valuable life lessons. The level of talent in this cast is truly remarkable and is a testament to the strength of the theater arts program at GHS. I can only imagine what wonders they will perform when MISA is completed.
Sunday I sang with my daughter Sarah's youth choir at the Second Congregational Church in the intergenerational choir which performs annually. I say my daughter's choir because she has sung with the choir for 18 years. She is only an assistant to the Choir Director, however, along with Lisa Romeo. The credit for this remarkable assemblage of talent goes to Lisbeth Lloyd Jones, the Choir Director. A former New York City Opera soloist and Julliard graduate, Lisbeth Lloyd teaches her charges to sing, and sing beautifully, but also teaches them music theory starting with very young singers through high school. The youth choir is muli-denominational and accepts singers from any faith and background. Last year the choir toured Italy and sang at the Vatican. This year they are going to tour Tennessee with stops at The Grand Old Opry and Graceland. The Second Congregational Youth Choir is for mixed voices with boys and girls singing together.
There are other outlets for youth performers in our town, including the Christ Church Girl's Choir and Boy's Choir, part of a very professional choir program at Christ Church. This program imports music scholars from England to work with all the various choirs in this large and active choral program.
