Every April marks the start of the Naugatuck Valley Community College Arts Department’s spring performance season and this year’s productions have landed big in and around the community. The College also hosted three major literary events to celebrate student, faculty and community writing.

Faculty Music Scholarship Benefit Concert

Music faculty members came together to support their students with an all-faculty music concert on April 3 that “entertained and delighted,” in the words of President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. The performances featured the Chunchu Trio, which includes professors Nayeon Kim, Qizhen Liu, and Richard Gard; Chris Dabbo at the piano; Nicholas Biello and his faculty ensemble of professors Chris Morrison, Henry Lugo, and super-drummer Greg Trabandt; and David Finley’s vocals. Thanks to the creative brainstorming and hard work of Professor Gard and staff member Lindsey Hollister in bringing the event together, the concert gave students an opportunity to hear their instructors perform while simultaneously raising money for the student scholarship fund.

The Namesake Book Reading

President De Filippis and the Arts and Humanities Division hosted an event to celebrate the January 2013 publication of the young adult novel, The Namesake, by Steven Parlato, assistant professor of English. Parlato’s fiction debut, The Namesake centers on a young man’s quest for answers as he grapples with the mystery surrounding his father’s suicide. Kirkus Reviews called the novel “a painstaking dissection of a father's past ... a memorable, disturbing story, carefully wrought," while Publishers Weekly called it “an introspective debut ... complex and solidly woven," referring to Parlato as “a name to watch.” The April 11 event featured an introduction and commentary on the book, a reading and discussion of Steve’s writing and publication journey, and a Q&A session.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Theater Department performed William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream April 11-14.

Confluencia Poetry Night

On April 16, poetry came to life at the final Confluencia event of the 2012-13 academic year. Community members and students were invited to read their works at an “open mic” before featured local poets Sherezada Luisa Chiqui Vicioso, Richard Duffee, Odette Casamayor-Cisneros and Bill Buschel read from their published poetry. At the end, audience members engaged in a lively question and answer discussion before parting ways for the night.

Fresh Ink Writer’s Conference

Fresh Ink, NV’s literary magazine, hosted the second biannual Fresh Ink Writer’s Conference on April 19 to recognize the College’s talented student writers and invite professional and studying literary enthusiasts to share their works. All were invited to learn from local professionals at the all-day conference, which included breakout sessions on fact-to-fiction writing, poetry, editing/publishing and writing for a niche audience hosted by college faculty and area experts. It also included the announcement of this year’s student submission winners, readings by local writers, book signings, networking and an open mic. Everett Hoagland, published poet and scholar, keynoted the event. Hoagland was inducted into the International Literary Hall Of Fame for Writers of African Descent in Chicago in 2009.

Celebrating 20 Years of Dance

The Dance Department celebrated 20 years of dance with a gala concert, “Our Stories, Our Reunion,” on April 27. Performances included modern dance choreography by students from the Choreographic Principles/Ensemble class and by dance faculty. Professor Elena Rusnak, director and founder of the NV dance programs, presented her piece based on the diary and mixed media art work entitled “Reunion” by former NV professor and current artist Florin Firimitã. Professors Susan McLain and Judith Ehrman-Shapiro performed McLain’s new modern work “Enmeshed,” Tania Nunez danced a ballroom piece and faculty member Alison Wang presented a traditional Chinese fan dance.

NV and First Church Choirs in Concert

The College Choir and the First Church Chancel Choir with Professor Richard Gard, conductor, performed “Tragedy and Triumph” at First Church of Christ, Congregational in Suffield on Saturday, April 27. The concert featured a number of choral masterpieces, including Francis Poulenc's "Gloria". The Naugatuck Valley Community College Choir comprises college students and members of the local community and has performed throughout the state and internationally.