Schreiber Spring Concert Premieres New Work

The Schreiber High School auditorium was packed Wednesday evening for the second high school concert this week. Many were there to hear a special performance by Schreiber’s mixed choir and Guggenheim Elementary school chorus in a debut of an original piece, Lullaby of the Iroquois.”

The piece was written by Miggy Torres, a student at Ithaca College’s School of Music. The performance is a first in a series of annual commissioned choral works with Ithaca College and the Schreiber High School Choir. The students rehearsed the piece under the leadership of John Spiezio, III, Schreiber’s choir director and an Ithaca College alum, and Elizabeth Riordan, Guggenheim’s chorus director.

This performance enabled the elementary and high school students to work together in a musical setting. And while Torres couldn't attend the performance as he was in the midst of final exams at Ithaca, he does plan to attend an upcoming performance at Guggenheim, Mr. Spiezio said.

Other highlights of the evening included pieces performed by Schreiber’s symphony orchestra, conducted by Anthony Pinelli, Jr.; the mixed choir and concert choir under the direction of Mr. Spiezio; and the concert band, conducted by Mark Brenner. Then, in a finale, Mr. Pinelli conducted the symphonic orchestra and concert band, which performed selections from “Les Miserables.”