January 09, 2009
The
Office of Community Relations once again hosted the annual Staten
Island campus Christmas Concert, featuring a performance of the
Nutcracker, Copellia and other holiday favorites on
Sunday, December 7th.
Photo Gallery
The Christmas program featured the costumed children of the New
American Youth Ballet with the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO),
conducted by Maestro Alan Aurelia, in a cheerful mix of music and
ballet to spread the Christmas spirit.
Community Relations Associate Kevin Ryan welcomed the audience of
nearly 300 and gave the community a brief update on University
events such as the Men’s Soccer Team advancement to the Final Four
and the Queens campus Annual Christmas Concert, which had taken at
Carnesecca Arena with the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra.
Santa Claus himself even made a surprise visit to the Staten Island
campus, walking around in the audience and greeting delighted
children.
Joseph Sciame, Vice-President for Community Relations, stated: “The
Annual Staten Island Christmas Concert is an opportunity for many
to come together in the Borough of Richmond and enjoy the great
music of the RCO. Moreover, in these tight economic times, it
allows those on the Island to be cost effective with less mileage
than to New York City, no tolls or parking expenses. It
becomes a win-win situation, what with talent galore and the happy
faces of children. Indeed, it becomes a good community
service.”
At the Staten Island campus of the University, the Office of
Community Relations also organizes a Veteran’s Day Ceremony, an
Adult Computer Workshop and maintains a regularly scheduled
bi-monthly Community Dialogue Group meeting, in partnership with
Wagner College, all in order to maintain harmonious relations with
the community-at-large. This year’s Christmas Concert was
co-sponsored through a grant received by the University from the
Office of State Senator Andrew Lanza.
For more information, call 718-390-4040 or view the University
website at www.stjohns.edu/communityrelations
or visit www.richmondcountyorchestra.org.