A Best Communities for Music Education recipient since 2013
A Best Communities for Music Education recipient since 2013
FACULTY
FACULTY
A Best Communities for Music Education Recipient
Since 2013
STAPLES MUSIC
Staples High School, Westport CT
Combined ensembles perform
at the 2024 Candlelight Concert. Photo by Kerry Long.
LATEST NEWS
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to Candlelight
In the spirit of the season, the Staples Tri-M Music Honor Society will be collecting for “CanDelight” a canned food donation drive to benefit the Westport Homes for Hope Food Pantry. Collection bins will be in the lobby of Staples High School before each concert if you would like to contribute!
85th Candlelight Concerts Dec. 12 & 13!
The 85th Annual Candlelight Concert will be presented at Staples High School Auditorium on Friday, December 12 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, December 13 at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. This annual gift to the Westport community showcases the talents of more than 200 students from Staples’ nationally recognized music program.
This year’s Candlelight Concert promises an evening of brilliance, reflection, and joy, a celebration of timeless music and new beginnings. Under the direction of the Staples Music faculty, audiences will experience an extraordinary range of works that highlight the depth and artistry of Staples’ performers.
The program once again opens with Susato’s spirited La Morisque and the beloved Candlelight processional, Sing We Noel. The processional leads into Ashlosha D’Avarim, a musical setting of the well-known Pirkei Avot verse that highlights the enduring values of truth, justice, and peace.
From there, listeners will be taken on a journey through vivid musical landscapes, from the brisk energy of Prokofiev’s Troika to the lush harmonies of Rachmaninov’s Bogoroditse Devo and the radiant optimism of Rosephanye Powell’s Ogo ni fun Oluwa.
A highlight of the evening will be John Rutter’s Gloria, bringing 200+ students together on stage for this cornerstone of contemporary choral music. Known for its rhythmic vitality and challenging writing, the piece showcases a level of musical achievement seldom seen at the high school level.
Adding a touch of student leadership and holiday cheer, the concert will also feature festive favorites performed by student-led ensembles such as Carol of the Bells, You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, and Jingle Bell Rock.
The concert concludes with Leroy Anderson’s iconic Sleigh Ride, followed, as tradition holds, by Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, inviting the audience to share in the wonder and spirit of the season.
Tickets will be available to the public on this website Tuesday, Dec 2, starting at 9am. There is a 4 ticket maximum. Order promptly, tickets historically sell out fast. There is no charge for Candlelight tickets, however donations in support of the music program are graciously accepted at Candlelight Donations.
Bravo! 67 SHS Musicians Accepted in CMEA WRF!
The music department is proud to celebrate 67 (yes, you read that correctly - there's no escaping it) of our music students from band, choir and orchestra who were accepted into this year's Connecticut Music Educators Association auditions for the Western Region Festival.
These students will be performing in their festival ensembles with other top musicians in our region on January 16th and 17th.
Orphenians in Spain
For nine days in June '25, the Ophenians traveled to Spain for a transformative choral festival under the leadership of teacher-conductor Lauren Pine and renowned composer and conductor Dr. Rollo A. Dilworth.
Joined by ensembles from across the United States and two choirs from Canada, students came together to rehearse, perform, and share music across historic cities. A highlight of the tour was the performance of Dilworth’s work "United in Purpose," set to the words of Maya Angelou, which called singers to embrace unity and responsibility for their communities. The journey included concerts in Madrid, Toledo, and Montserrat, as well as the extraordinary opportunity to sing during mass and in concert at La Sagrada Família, Barcelona.
Throughout the journey, students performed great music, fostered cross-cultural exchanges, strengthened ensemble discipline, and were exposure to a world-class conductor. Above all, it offered personal growth and lasting memories that will continue to shape their lives as musicians and as citizens of the world.
National Best Community for Music Education Recognition for 2025!
The Westport Public Schools has once again been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for the 12th year in a row. Recognized for its outstanding commitment to music education, Westport joins 623 districts across the country in receiving this prestigious award for 2025.
The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Districts that have been recognized by the NAMM Foundation are often held up as models for other educators looking to elevate their own music education programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westport answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. The Music Department has been fortunate to forge partnerships with community organizations such as the Westport Library, the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, PTA Cultural Arts and WestPAC, all who recognize and value the importance of the arts in education.
This award also recognizes that Westport is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the Arts as important elements in a well-rounded education for all children.
The Westport Music Department’s Vision is to develop our students’ artistic literacy and global awareness by growing their ability to create, perform and respond to diverse music at the highest level in a safe and nurturing environment.
HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Music has been a timeless way of communication when there were no other words to be said. It can have the power to heal, unify, and transcend all boundaries. It is now more than ever that we need to stay connected in order to listen and learn from each other.
Black Lives Matter.
We stand by our mission to prepare all students to reach their full potential as life-long learners and socially responsible contributors to our global community, yet we remain teachable ourselves in our efforts in order to fully promote that mission through and beyond the current and ongoing racial injustices.
We are proud to be a part of a national association that promotes equity and we stand united with you as the Staples Music community accepting of all of our differences in the hope for a better future.
We Are Listening.
Mrs. Brima, Ms. Mascaro, Mr. Mazzarella,
Mrs. Pine, Mrs. Serpliss, Mr. Winters
National Association for Music Education Statement
Please refer to this website throughout the school year for updated information about events & performances.
DEC 12 Candlelight Concert
8:00pm, SHS
DEC 13 Candlelight Concert
3:00pm & 8:00pm, SHS
DEC 16 Youth Candlelight Concert-BMS/GFS/LLS
10-10:45am, SHS (in-school performance)
DEC 17 Youth Candlelight Concert-CMS/SES/KHS/CES
10-10:45am, SHS (in-school performance)