Category Archives: Top Story

Con Brio to Hold Gala Farewell Concerts in Old Lyme to Honor Founding, Associate Directors

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Dr. Stephen Bruce of Groton will retire in July as the founding music director of the Con Brio Choral Society. All photos courtesy of Con Brio.

OLD LYME – The Con Brio Choral Society will honor the retirement of its music director and associate music director with a pair of concerts this month.  

The farewell concerts will bring together the Con Brio Festival Orchestra and Con Brio Chorus at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Rd., Old Lyme. 

Con Brio’s associate music director Susan Saltus is also retiring.

Music Director Stephen Bruce of Groton retires in July after 28 years as the society’s founding music director, according to the organization. He will remain with Con Brio, where he will hold the title of music director emeritus, in the bass section. 

Chris Shepard of Clinton will replace Bruce as music director in August. Shepard is described by the Con Brio Board of Directors as a renowned choral conductor, voice coach, arts ambassador, pianist, organist, and distinguished Bach scholar.

Associate Music Director Susan Saltus of Essex will also retire in July. She has served in the role since 2009.

Soloist Ransom Bruce, pictured here, will perform with fellow soloist Bill Sorensen along with 75 chorus members and the 30-piece Con Brio Festival Orchestra.

Con Brio will revisit some of Bruce’s favorites including pieces from Giacomo Puccini’s “Messa di Gloria,” Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah,” as well as several rousing spirituals.

Con Brio’s 75 singers will perform with the 30-piece Con Brio Festival Orchestra and soloists Ransom Bruce and Bill Sorensen.  The group will also introduce Shepard, who will conduct the chorus in Movement 5 of Benjamin Britten’s “Saint Nicholas.”

Tickets are $40, or $15 for students. To purchase tickets, visit the Con Brio website or call the box office at 860.526.5399. 

This report has been updated.

Lyme Academy Hosts Guest Lecturer from Yale to Discuss American Art Students at French Academies 1876–1900, April 12; Reception to Follow

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Speaker to be Mark Mitchell, Curator of American Paintings & Sculpture at Yale University Art Gallery, Reception to follow

Mark D. Mitchell, Holcombe T. Green Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, Yale University Art Gallery. Photo credit: Yale University

OLD LYME – On Saturday, April 12, at 4 p.m., the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts presents, “In the Studios of Paris: American Art Students at the French Academies, 1876–1900,” a guest lecture by Mark D. Mitchell, Holcombe T. Green Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at Yale University Art Gallery.

A wine and beer reception will follow in the Academy’s on-campus art gallery, with an opportunity to view the Academy’s newest exhibition, True to Form: Academic Figure Studies from the Late 19th to Early 20th Centuries.

Tickets are $30 and available online at www.lymeacademy.edu.

During the late 19th century, nearly every young American artist’s professional ambitions led straight to Paris. In the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and America’s Centennial, Paris emerged as the primary artistic training ground of Europe and a generation of American students came of age there.

Focused on the careers of leading artists of the era, including Kenyon Cox, Frederick MacMonnies, John Singer Sargent, and Julian Alden Weir, this talk will explore what budding American artists found when they arrived in Paris, what being an American art student abroad meant at the time, and how the experience shaped their ideas of art.

“The subject of artists’ training is one that has particular relevance for Lyme Academy,” comments Co-Artistic Director Jordan Sokol, “and we are delighted to have Yale curator Mark Mitchell share his unique perspective and knowledge.”

The mission of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is to teach the foundational skills of drawing, painting, and sculpture in the figurative tradition. By its commitment to training students in these skills and an engagement with contemporary discourse, the Academy will empower a new generation of artists. Through its programs, the Academy is committed to enriching the cultural life of the community. 

Editor’s Note: The mission of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is to teach the foundational skills of drawing, painting, and  sculpture in the figurative tradition. By its commitment to training students in these skills and an engagement  with contemporary discourse, the Academy will empower a new generation of artists. Through its programs,  the Academy is committed to enriching the cultural life of the community.

Eastern CT Symphony Orchestra, Chorus to Perform Free Concert of Faure’s ‘Requiem’

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The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (ECSO) and its chorus previously performed Mozart’s Requiem at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich. Photo courtesy of ECSO.

NORWICH – On Sunday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra  and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and other works at a free concert in the Cathedral of St. Patrick. 

The orchestra will be conducted by music director Toshiyuki Shimada and the chorus by director Daniel McDavitt, according to a press release. 

The ensemble describes Fauré’s late 19th century Requiem as a “truly special piece that will sound stunning in the Cathedral’s acoustics.” It will be sung by soprano Sarah Yanovitch Vitale and baritone Gregory Flower. 

The evening includes a piece by McDavitt titled “The Prayer of St. Francis” as well as Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer” featuring Yanovitch Vitale.

The concert is sponsored by the Edward and Mary Lord Foundation.

The grant allows the organization to promote free access to music across the region, according to Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra executive director Caleb Bailey

Free tickets may be reserved by visiting the symphony’s website. Donations collected at the event will benefit the symphony and St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich. 

Letter to the Editor: Help Sought to Recover Stolen Duck River Garden Club Birdhouses in Old Lyme; Not Just Decorative, They Symbolized Community Spirit

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To the Editor:

I am writing on behalf of the Duck River Garden Club to express our deep disappointment and sadness over a recent incident that has affected one of our beloved civic garden sites. Recently, several handcrafted birdhouses, lovingly built by the husband of one of our dedicated members, were stolen from the garden. 

This garden, located at the bottom of Exit 70 and serving as the gateway to Old Lyme, is a cherished space that welcomes residents and visitors alike with its natural beauty and thoughtful landscaping. The stolen birdhouses were not just decorative additions; they symbolized the community spirit and dedication of our members who work tirelessly to maintain and beautify this important landmark.

The Duck River Garden Club has always strived to create a welcoming and beautiful environment for both residents and wildlife. It is disheartening to see the hard work and the generosity of our members undermined by such senseless acts. We kindly ask that anyone who may have seen suspicious activity at the Exit 70 garden or has any information about the stolen items come forward and contact the local authorities.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank the many residents who have supported our club and cherished our gardens over the years. Your encouragement keeps us motivated. 

As a community, let’s continue to take pride in our public spaces and look out for one another. Together, we can ensure that the Duck River Garden Club’s efforts to beautify our town remain a source of joy for everyone.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,


Leslie Groves,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is the President of the Duck River Garden Club.

State Champions! Lyme-Old Lyme HS Boys are Members of Victorious CIAC Div. II Co-op Hockey Team

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Chris Anderson, Carter McGlinchey and Ben Frazier, all from Lyme-Old Lyme High School, share a victory smile. All photos by H. Heck except where indicated.

EAST HAVEN/OLD LYME—Four Lyme-Old Lyme High School boys are members of the co-op ice hockey team that includes players from East Haven, Sheehan, Morgan and East Hampton High Schools.

The team practices daily at East Haven.

The whole team celebrates.

Last weekend, March 22-23, the team won the CIAC Division ll Championship defeating Cheshire convincingly with a final 7-3 score line.

Lyme-Old Lyme HS players celebrate their victory. Hildie Heck, LOLHS Athletic Director, stands at far right. Photo submitted.

The LOLHS participants are:

Starting Goalie – Chris Anderson #1

Ben Frazier #3

Carter McGlinchey #66

Cal LaCourciere, who played JV this year.

Congratulations all round!