New Haven Symphony Orchestra
Elementary school music programs have seen a drop in the number of students enrolling in band or orchestra. The pandemic has forced music teachers to abandon their typical recruiting methods. But now a coalition of Connecticut symphony orchestras has stepped in with a series of free, online services to encourage potential musicians to sign up.
Pre-COVID, school districts would have a hands-on type of demonstration so students can choose the right instrument. This typically happens the year before they are allowed in band and orchestra. In West Hartford, for instance, 3rd graders are taken to Conard High School where they hear the West Hartford Symphony play a concert, and get the chance to come on stage and hear the instruments up close before they make a choice.
Reply Sperie Peter Perakos and wife Natalie (Nikki) Pappas Perakos of Orange, CT, inseparable and united for over 60 years, died respectively on April 5th and April 24th 2021. Both passed peacefully with loved ones at their sides.
Mr. Sperie P. Perakos was born in New Britain, CT, son of the late Peter G. and Julia Ladany Perakos. He was a graduate of Yale University, Pierson College Class of 1938. While later attending Harvard Law School, he was required to return to CT to assist in the family s theater business, founded by his father. Sperie Perakos enjoyed a long and successful career as President and CEO of Connecticut Theatre Associates, owning and operating exhibition theatres throughout CT, MA and NJ. Mr. Perakos was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII, serving as a Captain in Intelligence in the 448th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion which participated in the Normandy invasion, specifically at Utah Beach. The 448th subsequently attached to the 35th Infantry Division (part of Gener
Spotlight On … Next up on Parlor Performances
Community Content
In the first three weeks of Newton’s Parlor Performances, we have connected with hundreds of people watching talent from pop to folk to American classics. This series offers viewers a chance to experience a wide variety of genres from local talent.
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Yoni Battat will join us as the fourth performance in this series. Battat is a multi-instrumentalist (viola, violin, oud), vocalist, and composer, specializing in contemporary and traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. A resident of Newton, he is a classically trained violist, with a bachelor’s from Brandeis University and master’s from Boston University. He has appeared with several orchestras and chamber ensembles, such as the New Haven Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, Juventas Ensemble, ALEA III and VSNY.
Spotlight on … Parlor Performances
Are you longing for the invigorating feeling you get from a live musical performance?
With the shut down of most indoor performance spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunity to connect with live music has shifted to online platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
For now, we must be satisfied with the virtual world of performing. This month, Newton Cultural Development is pleased to announce the The Parlor Performance series as an alternative way to reconnect with live music. Our hope is to support local musicians by offering them a venue to perform in and a live audience to interact with. The series, to be live streamed on Facebook, provides a sampling of multiple musical genres, showcasing local talent. Tune in on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. on the Newton Cultural Development Facebook page, https://bit.ly/3nRmToe.