Next month’s 75th anniversary of the Staples High School Candlelight Concert will include a special pre-concert event to celebrate the milestone.
Adele Cutrali-Valovich, director of orchestral music at Staples, congratulates a student at last year’s Candlelight Concert. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com
The three free performances are Friday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. with the alumni performance at 8 p.m. There is free admission but tickets must be obtained in advance on the music department website at http://www.staplesmusic.org.
An anniversary gala reception will be held at the Westport Inn on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. before the 8 p.m. alumni performance, organizers announced.
The cost is $75 per person and includes a reserved seat at the alumni concert, food, drinks, and music. On sale at the gala will be 75th anniversary logo wear and a four-CD musical retrospective of the concert’s 75 years.
The gala ticket is tax deductible and will fund future music department initiatives for students, organizers said.
Adele Cutrali-Valovich, director of orchestral music and organizer of the event, said music department parents have outdone themselves in putting the gala together.
“In addition to being a great party, the parents have gathered a collection of memorabilia and music from years past that will make this a once in a lifetime evening,” she said.
“For any of the close to 30,000 music students who have participated in the Candlelight Concert during its 75-year run, this is a must not miss.
“And going to the gala guarantees you a reserved seat to the toughest ticket in town, the alumni performance on Saturday night.”
Tickets to the gala are also available on the music department’s website.
