“Children nowadays are listening to music all the time,” she
says. “They are very eclectic in their tastes, and we must find
the value in the music they are listening to. In my classes,
I often introduce them to classical music, and they enjoy
that too.”
That isn’t to say that Sr. Lauretta goes easy on students when
it comes to performing. She plays a key role in coordinating
the biennial Msgr. Louis D’Addezio Concert of Excellence at the
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. All student participants
are members of individual All-Catholic groups, for which they
must audition every year.
“Today’s children are very eclectic
in their musical tastes, and we must
find the value in the music they are
listening to.”
In a time when music
programs are facing mounting
challenges, Sr. Lauretta is a
strident proponent of making
arts and music education
accessible to today’s students
on their terms.
This year’s performance featured approximately 510 students
representing the Archdiocesan Schools of Special Education,
the All-Catholic High School Concert Band, the Archdiocesan
Festival Chorus, the Archdiocesan Elementary String Orchestra,
the All-Catholic High School Chorus, the Archdiocesan
Elementary Honor Band, the Archdiocesan Honor Chorus, the
All-Catholic High School Orchestra, the Elementary Jazz Band,
and the All-Catholic High School Jazz Band.
“The very fact that we can get 510 music
students performing on the stage of
Verizon Hall is unique in itself,” Sr. Lauretta
says. “It’s exciting to see all the student
musicians come together at the end to play
the finale.”
While the performers change year after year, it’s
also common for the performance to feature a
reprise — musical or otherwise. This year’s finale
was composed by Sean Kennedy, an Archbishop
Wood graduate. Sr. Lauretta says seeing current
and former students’ ongoing enthusiasm
motivates her to continue teaching.
“I love seeing All-Catholic chorus, orchestra, or
band students come back to AOPS schools as
teachers,” she says. “Here at Archbishop Ryan,
we have a math teacher who was in All-Catholic
chorus, and our jazz band instructor was in
All-Catholic band. They are all around.
That is probably the biggest thrill to
me — we did some good there.”
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