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Emily DeGirolamo  sings Alleluia by Mozart   at the Summer Concert 2011 of the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio, July 31, 2011.  The pianist is Howard Rovics. The concert took place at the Danbury Music Centre.  The video was taken by Ray Flanigan of Bethel PhotoWorks.

Matt Wilcox from Brookfield, Ct.  sings I Need to Know from Jekyll and Hyde by Wildhorn.   at the Summer Concert 2011 of the Christina Rovics Vocal Studio, July 31, 2011.  The pianist is Howard Rovics. The concert took place at the Danbury Music Centre.  The video was taken by Ray Flanigan of Bethel PhotoWorks.

In Summer Concert 2011 we presented 13 singers in two successive hour long programs at the Danbury Music Centre on July 31st. By breaking our presentation apart in this way audience members could attend the program that most interested them although a few people chose to attend both. The first program at 6:00 pm featured the classics, Broadway, and an original piece by Emily DeGirolamo who composed it, singing and accompanying herself at the piano.  The second program at 7:30 pm contained some musical theater numbers as well but the program emphasized popular standards and Lauren Fischetti's performance of Howard Rovics Cabaret Songs -- arrangements of Cole Porter and George Gershwin.  Three singers appeared for the first time on our studio concerts: Rodney Warren, Lana Levine, and Matt Wilcox.

   Every one of our 13 presenters did a commendable job from our youngest singers Anna and Mira to our two recent high school graduates Sarah-Kate Chiovitti (featured on the first program) and Lauren Fischetti who concluded the second program.

   Ray Flanigan of Bethel Photo Works videotaped on his high definition professional camera.  It was a hot summer day. We did not dare to shut the A/C so the background noise level of quiet but continuously rushing air, hardly noticeable in the hall, reduced the audio quality. Still there are many performances in their entirety that are worthy of sharing on Youtube and Facebook.  Gradually, in the course of the coming weeks select videos will be posted.  Meanwhile, here is a group photo from our 6:00 pm concert. Names from left to right are:  Anna, Nancy Brant, Sharon McCarthy, Howard, Emily DeGirolamo, Maria LoStocco, Mira, Christina and Sarah-Kate Chiovitti.

On July 2, 2010 Evan (the boy in this picture who plays the Artful Dodger in Oliver) inspired a blog entitled Working with a Young Voice. At that time Evan, an eager and talented young actor had just begun singing lessons at the encouragement of his theatrical director. Our article describes how Christina helped him to bring his singing ability up to that of his level as a young actor.

The show that he was training for was Oliver, a production of Random Farms Kids Theater at the Tarrytown Music Hall. Out of a field of 50 youngsters, five including Evan received call-backs for the role of the Artful Dodger. Unexpectedly though, the director chose Evan to sing the lead role of Oliver in an entirely different voice type than the way he had been trained to sing. Quickly he adapted to the task and learned how to manage his boy soprano voice.

Now, one year later, Evan is singing the other leading role, the Artful Dodger, at Musicals at Richter. Here is Evan's bio for this show:

"EVAN SMOLIN (Artful Dodger) is excited to be performing with Musicals at Richter this summer. He is in his second season with MAR’s Fairy Tale Theater. Last summer he was Andrew in their presentation of The Velveteen Rabbit.  He performs often with Random Farms Kids Theatre (RFKT) where he most recently played Colin in The Secret Garden. He won a place in RFKT’s Industry Show Night in December 2010 and was Oliver in RFKT’s Summer 2010 production of Oliver! He studies piano and voice at the Rovics Studio in Bethel, CT.  Evan sends a big “Hello!” to his friends and family and thanks everyone who made this performance possible."

Details follow about Musicals at Richter and this production:

Danbury’s Musicals at Richter 27th Season Under the Stars Continues with “Oliver!”  July 28 through August 13

Danbury, Conn. – Musicals at Richter (MAR), now in its 27th season as the longest-running outdoor theater in Connecticut, continues the 2011 season with “Oliver!,“ Lionel Bart’s beloved musical based on the Charles Dickens’ novel about a plucky young orphan making his way in 19th century London, playing July 28 through August 13.  Staged on the grounds of the Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury, performances take place outdoors under the stars Friday through Sunday evenings through Saturday, August 13 at 8:30 p.m., with discounted tickets for the Thursday July 28 preview and for Sunday evening performances July 31 and August 7.

Shows are Friday through Sunday evenings at 8:30 p.m. Grounds open at 7:15 p.m. for picnicking. Tickets are $23 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $15 for students and children.  Tickets for the July 28 preview are $10.  For the Sunday performances July 31 and August 7, tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $12 for students and children.  Group rates and chair rentals are available, and a snack/soft drink concession is on site.

For reservations and further information, visit the website at www.musicalsatrichter.org, leave a message at 203-748-6873 or e-mail info@musicalsatrichter.org.

                  Molly Villodas, (age 10) is singing the role of Marta in the Sound of Music, a production of the Brewster Theater Company. Her performance dates are August 4, 5 and 6 at 8:00 pm and August 6 at 2:00 pm.  Two other students of Christina Rovics, Katey Loughran and Ashley Villodas are also in the cast of this production.    Go to http://www.brewstertheatercompany.org/  for more information.                Laura McKee (age 17) sings the role of Rosie, the character lead in Bye Bye Birdie, a production of the Congregational Church of New Fairlfield. The show opens July 29th with performances to follow on July 30, 31, August 5, 6 and 7.  The hall is air conditioned. Tickets are $13 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and children. Call Dot Bass at 203-746-2855 for reservations.

Evan Smolin, (age 10) sings the lead role of the Artful Dodger at Musicals at Richter in the show Oliver. Opening night is July 29th. He will be performing after that on July 31st, August 6th and August 12th.  Contact www.musicalsatrichter.org for more information. He has been studying voice with Christina and piano with Howard for over a year. In 2010 he played the role of Oliver in a production of this show in Westchester.

Maria LoStocco, (age 14)  is singing the National Anthem on July 27th at the Republican Town Committee nominations at the Palace Theater in Danbury at 6:00 pm.  On Wednesday July 28th the Catholic War Veterans requested her to sing God Bless America at its Korean War ceremony.

What started out as one Summer Concert for 2011 became two programs so that neither one would be too long. Here is the flier for Summer Concert 2011 Program One, the 6:00 pm event. 

Compositions by Howard Rovics are being performed by Music at Eden's Edge in the Boston area in four events: July 18th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd. In celebration of Music at Eden's Edge's 30th season of presenting concerts on Boston's North Shore, the organization is presenting two of Howard's chamber music compositions that were commissioned by this prestigious ensemble in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

Journey: a Seagoing Narrative with Music (2006) is based on the book Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana. Listening to the Sea Winds (2008) is based on the poetry of the late Vincent Ferrini. Both compositions celebrate the cultural heritage of Boston's North Shore, known for hundreds of years as the vital center of the East coast's maritime industry and culture.