A holiday gift of music

Monticello High School band and choir

perform for U.S. troops in Iraq

By RICHARD A. ROSS

richardross@riverreporter.com

MONTICELLO, NY — You could see them on the television screen smiling and applauding the musical moments of warmth being sent to them from thousands of miles away. For the members of the 3rd Infantry Division serving on the front lines in Iraq, the special holiday “Songs for Troops” concert on December 20, featuring more than 500 students from five local school districts including Monticello, offered a welcome respite from the arduous rigors of combat and a glimpse into the more peaceful holiday spirit back home.

Originally slated to be held two days earlier, the concert, made possible through the use of Orange-Ulster BOCES’ Internet Protocol video conferencing bridge, had been postponed due to casualties suffered by members of the 3rd Infantry.

Organized by Chester Middle School assistant principal Ernest Jackson, a retired army lieutenant colonel who served most of his military career in the 3rd Infantry Division, the concert followed in the tradition of USO performances delivered live to troops since the 1940s. But unlike the USO, which for safety reasons must perform in designated safe zones, modern video conferencing technology enabled the schools to bring this concert directly to the troops.

Through the coordinated efforts of Jackson and Shelley Rossito, the executive director of technology and professional development at Monticello High School, aided by the nuts-and-bolts work of Monticello technician Dennis DePasquale, the troops were able to listen to the high school band, under the direction of Aaron Rovitz, perform the theme from SWAT.

Just moments before the concert was set to begin with a flag presentation by a five-man color guard from Warwick VFW Post 4662, DePasquale was still trying to iron out some glitches in the system to enable the Monticello band and choir members to see and hear both the performances and the troops who were enthusiastically responding to them.

Members of the Monticello senior choir, under the direction of Snezana Lozich, then sang “The Boar’s Head Carol,” followed by Bach’s “Sicut Locutus Est.” Hector Berlioz’s “Shepherd’s Farewell” preceded “Dodi, Li,” a Hebrew song. The choir concluded its performance with a candle-lit singing of “Silent Night,” after Lozich invited the troops to sing along with the Monticello choir.

The performance also featured performances from the Chester Middle School, Minisink Valley Middle School, The Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School’s fifth- and sixth-grade band and chorus (from the Port Jervis school district) and the Warwick Valley Middle School.

The concert was held in memory of Sgt Samuel E. Kelsey of Troup, TX who was killed in action in Tunnis, Iraq on December 13. Kelsey, a graduate of Troup High School, was born in Athens, TX on June 28, 1983. He had been serving in the U.S. Army for the past five years.

For an album of photos, click here.