By Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter     

Jun. 14, 2017: The baccalaureate for the Bronxville High School Class of 2017 saw nineteen seniors deliver solid and inspired performances in instrumental and vocal music, dance, and dramatic reading, much to the delight of family members, friends, and classmates.

The performance, at Concordia College's Sommer Center for Worship and the Performing Arts on Sunday afternoon, June 11, drew an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. After the performances, audience members enjoyed an exhibition in Schoenfeld Campus Center, which featured fine arts pieces crafted by seniors.

Vocal performances featured pop classics "Yellow Brick Road," by Elton John, performed by Maddie Coyne, and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," sung by Abby Geiling and Alyson Schultz; as well as the more recent "Dancing on My Own," by the Kings of Leon, presented by Sabina Richter, Taylor Swift's "Never Grow Up," sung by Grayson Elder and Sabina Richter, Mia Bettino's performance of Hozier's "Cherry Wine," Ed Sheeran's "Give me Love," sung by Sonora Rivera-Heinz accompanied by Evan Downs on guitar, "That's What's Up," by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, performed by Mia Bettino and Ellie Briskin, and "When We Were Young," by Adele and sung by Abby Geiling. Grayson Elder sang "Sanctuary," by Sarah Siskind, Jill Andrews, and Gary Nicolson, from the television series Nashville.

Two original pieces, "Eire," a dramatic reading given by Sara Conway from her play of the same title, and "In Memory of Thomas," composed for piano and played by Gianna DiMinno, were on the program.

Natascha Puri presented an energetic and crowd-pleasing Bollywood dance.

Violinist Remi Laurence joined guitarist Evan Downs to perform Melodie, by Christoph Willibald Gluck, and later played Felix Mendelssohn's Concerto in E Minor. Pianist William Cioffi played the fourth movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1, and oboist Michael Landy performed Gabriel's Oboe, by Ennio Morricone.

The program also featured two instrumental duets, "Piano Man," by Billy Joel, played by Jason Cushman and Tommy Maldonado, and Duets for Clarinet No. 2 and No. 3 by Friedrich Berr, played by David DiMolfetta and Lindsay Nobles.

In his opening address, senior Max Clark shared the impact of the arts on his life in terms of the craft of acting, which he pursues. "Any performance an actor does," he said, "is an extension and an expression of themselves. What I think my fellow seniors can attest to is that no matter what type of craft we engage in, art is an expression." He added that the history of art is a history of expressions.

The Class of 2017 selected teacher Steve Klurfeld, social studies and economics teacher, to deliver the baccalaureate address. In his remarks, Klurfeld said that the arts continue to shape who he is and how he sees the world. "What is undeniable," he said, "is that art is powerful. Art voices opinions. Art creates change. Art symbolizes beauty. … Art is an historical record." One of the most important benefits for him, he noted, is that art brings people together and that all manner of decisions that separate people in the world can be erased in the space where art is created.

"While being a great unifying source," Klurfeld said, "the memories and associations you take from art are yours alone." If you bear witness to art enough, he told the seniors, their world view will change. "The arts allow you to flex your appreciation muscle. It begins with what is in front of you."

Klurfeld expressed his hopes that the members of the Class of 2017 have been as positively influenced by art as he has. "I wish you all the luck the world can offer," he said.

To see photos of the baccalaureate, click here.

Pictured here: The members of the class of 2017 who performed in the baccalaureate.

Photo above and photos in link by A. Warner