Several years ago, students asked Shirley Taylor Moore, director of C, B, and A music and a  professional opera singer, to sing arias by the Italian composer they were studying in music class. Moore agreed, and since then students have continued to ask her the same question, and she and her colleagues have continued (except when paused by covid) to share their talents annually at Lower School assemblies. Said Ms. Moore, “It is necessary for students to see me, their teacher, execute some of the singing techniques I ask of them.” 

 

Ms. Moore kicked off this year's assembly with a dedication to the Form II boys, who invited her to sing in 2019, right before the pandemic. Accompanied by her long-time pianist George Peachey, Moore transformed Trapier Theater into a hall of song with her rendition of “Dich, Teure Halle,” from the opera Tannhäuser, by Richard Wagner. Collin Power, our new organist and accompanist, joined Moore in singing the duet “Mia Gelosa!” from the opera Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini. The boys joined in the final performance, singing “I Bought Me a Cat,” an American folksong arranged by Aaron Copland, which inspired lots of laughter!