December 20, 2016
St. John’s University and The Richmond County Orchestra (RCO) added holiday cheer to the season with “Christmastime in Song and Dance” on Sunday, December 18 at the St. John's University Staten Island Campus. With over 300 community members in attendance, the capacity crowd was treated to a variety of holiday music lead by Maestro Alan Aurelia of the Richmond County Orchestra.
“Each year, we try to come together at St. John’s University and at its Staten Island campus in a special way, by bringing together good music, led by a grand Maestro with the RCO, and incorporate the children of the wider community in a way where we can single out their talents and good will. This year’s record attendance was a testimony to the people of Staten Island and their coming together to support the goodness of the season. Indeed, it makes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to be," stated Joseph Sciame, Vice-President for Community Relations.
The evening’s features also included The New American Ballet (NAYB), under the direction of Elizabeth Flores, co founder and Creative Director of the NAYB, performing excerpts from The Nutcracker Ballet. Some local professional talent included Soprano Kristin Palmeri performing “Text me Merry Christmas” and “Let It Go”. Complementing her was piano soloist and audience favorite, Brian Moses, who under the direction of Maestro Aurelia from the age of 5 and now a Freshman at Stuyvesant High School, performed Arabesque Number 1 by Claude Debussy. Adding an Italian twist to the evening, renowned opera singer Giuseppe Taormina performed various songs including "O sole Mio" and “O Holy Night". The Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth String Ensemble also performed a Christmas Sing-a-long with all in attendance.
The Richmond County Orchestra was founded by Maestro Aurelia in 1998 to provide the Staten Island Community with the best of live classical, jazz, and contemporary music. Having performed internationally, Maestro Aurelia is also a regular guest conductor in Massa, Italy. Commenting on the evening’s concert Maestro Aurelia said, "Most dance companies do not perform with a full orchestra. This is an opportunity to see their talent showcased while accompanied by our orchestra.”
The 2016 Staten Island “Christmastime in Song and Dance” Concert was made possible by the generous support of the St. John’s University Italian Cultural Center and Office of Community Relations as well the support of Con Edison, NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs, and the NYSCA. For more information regarding the concert, please contact Paul Lazauskas, Associate Director for Community Relations at 718-990-1912 or via email at [email protected]