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Welcoming an audience of over 600 Dwight community members to the beautiful Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Eric Novod, Head of Performing Arts, declared, “Tonight we celebrate, we enjoy, we listen, we sing, we play, and we certainly do not take for granted just how truly special these joyous moments are for every single one of us — on stage, backstage, and in the audience. The next 150-year journey in the storied history of the Dwight Schools is off to an exciting start!”
 

Exciting indeed, as more than 180 students from Dwight in New York, London, Seoul, Dubai, and Dwight Global Online School took to the stage to share their talents, passion for music, and Lion-sized spirit in what is our most-anticipated cross-campus collaboration of the year. While our global community has remained closely connected throughout the pandemic and we continued our annual concert tradition virtually in innovative ways, the coming together of students and music faculty in New York again was magical. They were joined by high school students from Franklin School, Dwight’s affiliate in Jersey City, which opened last fall to welcome its first students. While musicians from Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School were unable to participate in person, their recorded pieces have been incorporated into a concert video we look forward to sharing soon.

In Global Harmony

In the months leading up to the concert, students from each School rehearsed on their own campus, yet it wasn’t until they gathered in person for a few days of intensive rehearsals to finetune their collaborative performances that the program took its final shape. During that time, students connected with friends they’ve met previously and make new ones, experiencing special moments while pursuing their sparks of genius side by side. 

In addition to clocking many hours together in rehearsals with our global music faculty, students who flew to New York visited a number of sights in The Big Apple — and everyone enjoyed some down time when they went to a Broadway show, Kimberly Akimbo, mid-week and a special dinner on the eve of the concert.
 

When their big day arrived and the first chord of music was struck, the audience was taken on a spirited musical journey around the world, which spanned genres: classical, traditional Indian, rock, pop, jazz, and Broadway pieces. Each School performed its own set with ensembles and featured soloists, who showcased their artistry, including students studying at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music Pre-college Programs. Parents, family members, faculty, staff, and our global Heads of School were impressed and quite proud.
 

Our youngest performers were 30 members of our Fifth Grade Choir here in New York, who sang “Constellations,” an original piece of music composed by Jacob Bruner ’23 with lyrics written by the fifth graders. The name of the song was inspired by the stars in our Dwight crest, representing infinite sparks of genius of students worldwide! This performance experience provided them with a taste of special global concert opportunities to come.
 

“New Horizons” concluded with a rousing finale that included Dwight Schools Orchestra, Band, and Choir in which everyone was on stage performing a piece entitled “River,” which was conducted beautifully and expertly by Dwight Global student Chuyi Luo ’23. Chuyi, who is studying composition at Juilliard, is a conducting fellow with the New York Youth Symphony. “River” was arranged by alumnus Andrew Abrahamsen ’14. Andrew debuted his own composition in 2014 at our global concert from the Carnegie Hall stage. Now, almost a decade later, his passion for music is sparking inspiration in the next generation of Dwight students through our Music Conservatory, where he is a composition and piano instructor.
 

Pausing to Honor Dwight Family Members

During this special evening, Dianne Drew, Head of School and Global Education Director for all Dwight Schools, took to the stage during intermission and said, “Both our 150-year history and future are written thanks to the incredible dedication of our wonderful faculty and staff around the world, and we are delighted to honor those who have been members of our Dwight family for 20 years or more.” Each one has made innumerable contributions in igniting sparks of genius in our students and we are grateful for their long-term service. They are:

• Jan Kraft, Director of Music at Dwight School London: 20 years
• Alicia Morris, Director of Admissions and Placement for K, and Associate Head of the Early Childhood Division: 20 years
• Octavio Mercado, a member of our Maintenance team: 22 years
• Sabrina Hecker, Timothy House Teacher: 23 years
• Ellen Sayers, DP Art Teacher, Head of Visual Arts, and Dean of Eleventh Grade: 23 years
• Annette Harchik, Quest Teacher for Kindergarten-grade 8: 24 years 
• Caroline Venturini, Executive Assistant to Head of School and Main Office Manager: 24 years

There are several members of our Dwight family whose years of service mark a quarter of a century or exceed that milestone:

• Barry Gragg, DP Physics Teacher and Head of Upper School Science: 25 years
• Terrence Christgau, MYP Theater Teacher, and Director of the Master Theater Program and Upper School Theater Productions: 26 years
• Arthur Samuels, College Counselor: 31 years
• Sandra Darzy, Study Center Supervisor: 32 years
• Enver Purovic, Security Guard: 34 years
• Luz Giraldo, DP Spanish Teacher: 35 years
   

Ms. Drew added, “I would be woefully remiss to end our recognition here. Chancellor Stephen Spahn and Vice Chancellor Blake Spahn are also among our longest-serving Dwight family members: Blake for 27 years and Stephen for an amazing 56 years! They have been supported by their better halves, as Connie Spahn worked in Admissions at Dwight for more than a quarter of a century and Maryll Spahn has continued the family tradition.”

Ms. Drew went on to say, “Our global network of Schools stands apart due to the exceptional learning opportunities that we offer students worldwide, as well as the extraordinary strength and continuity of leadership. Chancellor Spahn has taken Dwight from a small boys school to a global powerhouse and ignited a truly countless number of student sparks. Blake, himself a Dwight alumnus, is extending that vision, propelling it far into our next 150 years.” 

Before returning to the music, we applauded all of our honorees for their long-term commitment and never-ending creativity, which have helped to shape our School today. And as the evening’s celebration came to end, we had crossed over together into exciting new horizons!

Take a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsal:
 

And see below for an album of more concert photos.
 

After being accepted into Northeastern, Enzo decided not to head straight to Boston last fall, but to hop across the pond for his first semester in London. “It was a very unique and exciting experience, which I’m thankful for. I have always felt that being surrounded by different cultures and meeting new people expands your view of the world and allows you to make connections across different countries,” he says, “which was certainly the experience of being a Dwight student. I had been surrounded by people from different backgrounds from all over the world for many years and enjoyed traveling on exchange programs with other Dwight Schools.”

The one-semester Northeastern program abroad for first-year students is designed to help them experience the local culture balanced by a manageable school workload. Enzo shared that going abroad on one’s own might be daunting at first, but the same may be true for any freshman going to college for the first time; “as time goes on, you realize that you’ve made a new home for yourself,” he explains. 

During his senior year at Dwight, Enzo, who was on our Boys Varsity Basketball team in winter, joined our School’s first-ever Boys Varsity Volleyball team in spring 2022 and quickly fell in love with the sport. He and fellow players made a very impressive run by also becoming the first-ever team to reach the NYSAIS State tournament in its inaugural year! “Enzo was an all-around team leader and big brother to all,” reports Coach Chuck. “He was put in an important position and rose to the occasion every time.”

Enzo brought his talent and passion for volleyball to England, where he had the time and opportunity to join one of the league club teams in England, the Wapping Wildcats, a club in the National Volleyball League (NVL). The coaches there taught Enzo new techniques and further developed his volleyball IQ. He says, “I would have loved to have had more time to play volleyball at Dwight and wish I could have started sooner. I had amazing Dwight coaches, which helped me to develop my game and without them I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play in England. They taught me very well and were extremely welcoming and supportive.

Although Enzo wasn’t able to finish the season with the Wapping Wildcats, it was amazing that he got to participate and learn how the NVL play and with only one season of competitive volleyball under his belt. He looks forward to trying out for the Northeastern team and continuing to hone his skills.

After asking Enzo what advice he has for future Dwight grads, he carefully considered his response, and said that despite how much pressure senior year may present, it’s important to remember that it is ultimately up to each student to follow their own path. Enzo has seen some peers forcing themselves quickly into an area of study they aren’t particularly interested in during their first college year rather than getting some general requirements out of the way and taking time to consider all the options. “A key piece of advice is to connect with your college advisor early to be as successful as possible.” 

Now enjoying his second semester stateside, Enzo is finding Northeastern to be a great fit and hopes to major in business when the time comes. “A business degree is very versatile, which will allow me to concentrate in any area that I enjoy such as fashion, sports, or even the culinary world.” 

Whatever he decides to pursue in the long run, Enzo will bring his well-earned Dwight Lion roar to succeed both on and off the court!

This Commedia dell’Arte piece set in 1700s Venice follows the story of Lelio , a charismatic young man looking for love – and our titular liar – as he weaves himself a web of white lies trying to find love upon returning home after 20 years in Rome, telling tales of his heroic escapades.

The Art of Commedia dell’Arte
To bring this complex comedic delight to life, Terry Christgau, Head of Upper School Theater Productions and Director of the Master Theater Program, first prepared our actors for the daunting task of taking on the highly physical art form of Commedia dell’Arte. This style of Italian theater began in the late Renaissance in marketplaces, where a motley group of characters developed — jugglers, acrobats, clowns, and archetypes who were, at the time, a modernization of characters from Roman comedies. As these characters grew in popularity through the 1500s and 1600s, they gained a foothold in France and then throughout Europe and into England. But what truly sets Commedia apart are the masks and physical transformations. These unique additions – similar to that of the work of mimes and clowns – soon became very familiar to audiences of that day and is a staple of this character-driven style of storytelling. 

Little White Lies
With absurdity and chaos propelling the flow of this comedy, it’s no surprise that the whirling web of lies begins right at the start as we take a journey to explore themes of deception, acceptance, and the meaning of integrity. To begin our story, Lelio, played by Lily Ventura ’23, immediately sets his sights on the lovely Rosauro, played by Ava Kimmel ’23, putting an elaborate scheme in place to win her heart with the help of his loyal servant, Arlecchino, played by Guilherme Sequeira ’24. But how far can Lelio’s lies take him before it all unravels? 

With the assistance of the shy Florinda, played by Polina Nikitina ’23 and Sophia Severson ’25; and the noble Ottavio, played by Olivia Beal ’25 and Zayneb Sumar ’25, the gentlemen and their loyal servants come to realize Lelio’s endless schemes and eventually untangle his web which, by Act Two, has grown far too large for our titular character to control.

An incredibly talented cast of students in grades 10-12 brought Goldoni’s farcical characters to life, effortlessly inhabiting them and telling a provocative story a modern audience may find quite unfamiliar. To top things off, this difficult form of theater is one that many professionals devote their lives to perfecting. The style, which became prevalent in the works of Shakespeare and Moliere, found its way into early films with actors like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton and even into more recent TV shows like “The Nanny” and “Spongebob,” solidifying its place as an everlasting art form. “Commedia dell’arte, its stock characters, and the whole approach to theater — a mirror that we look into to see our own folly — remains an essential part of the human experience,” explains Mr. Christgau.

Work on this show began in early October with cast and crew alike dedicating hours and hours of time and energy after school, on weekends, and some even in the fall Master Theater Program session, working alongside a commedia dell’arte expert. During rehearsals, they perfected every ounce of timing and learned to truly inhabit this challenging style – after all, practice makes perfect! The final product left audiences breathless from laughter and impressed by the performances of this gifted group of young actors. All in all, the result was both a whirlwind and a lesson about the importance of honesty — and we give it two massive thumbs (or masks) up! 
Bravissimo to all in the cast and student crew: 

Florindo ..........................................................................Polina Nikitina ’23/Sophia Severson ’25*

Brighella ...................................................................................................... Brooke Radosevich ’24

Rosauro .....................................................................................................................Ava Kimmel ’23

Beatrice ........................................................................Natalie Martell ’23/Allegra Masterson ’24*

Lelio .......................................................................................................................... Lily Ventura ’23

Arlecchino...................................................................................................Guilherme Sequeira ’24

Columbina...........................................................................................................Mia Rasmussen ’25

Ottavio .......................................................................................Olivia Beal ’25/Zayneb Sumar ’25*

Pantalone ................................................................................................................ Maysa Souri ’24

Il Dottore ................................................................................................................. Acadia Colan ’24

Gondolier/Singer/Draper’s Apprentice...................................................................Esme Tublin ’25

Musician/Coachman...................................................................................................Oliver Wyatt ’26

Musician/Letter Carrier.......................................................................... Franny Gindi-Chiafullo ’24 

Production Stage Manager….......……….…………………………………….. Franny Gindi-Chiafullo ‘24 

Lighting Designer……….....………..............……………………………………………………..Ben O’Connor ’23

Student Design/Carpentry/Paint Crew…………......……….. Em Brandon ’23, Sylvia Cardew ’24,

  .........…………....…….....…...………………………………………………………..Charlene Luo ’24, Zoe Lenz ’24 

Stage Crew………..…...…...………....……...………………….……….Xuan Stabb ’23, Hannah Klamkin ’24,

……………......………………………….Olivia Mitchell-Burrell ’24, Mora Vazquez ’24, Freda Manu ’26
 

Our Girls Varsity Soccer and Varsity Volleyball teams were unstoppable, with both taking home the ISAL Championship titles and the Volleyball squad also earning their spot in the NYSAIS Post Season Tournament for two consecutive seasons! Read on to see what our student-athletes and coaches achieved together with tons of Lion pride. 

Girls Varsity Soccer    
This fall was one for the record books, as the Girls Varsity Soccer team was undefeated in the ISAL and crowned the League Champions, with an overall record of 10-4-1. The players became very close throughout the season, building camaraderie and teamwork; and seniors really set an example for other student-athletes, carrying themselves with maturity and bringing a powerful presence to the pitch. We will miss all of them: Sofia Chenillo, Zoe Droulias, and Erica Frenette. Looking ahead, the team declares: "We're not done yet." With that, we’re eager to see how this translates next fall!

Boys Varsity Soccer    
Despite being an overall young team, the Boys Varsity Soccer squad stepped onto the pitch to compete in top form every second. With a record of 6-4 and earning a spot in the playoffs, the team worked hard to make their dreams of an ACIS League championship victory an eventual reality. Coach Max Tyers says, "after coming in third this season, we're hoping to win it all next season!" Stellar performances by seniors Jason Lopez, Dan Boekamp, Simon Mabott, and Jonah Saltzman helped the Lions this year. According to Coach Tyers, “future stars Johnny Goldenberg '24, Nico Faessler '25, and David Weisleder '25 are eager to take the reigns and guide the team to success next year.”

Boys JV Soccer    
Ending with a record of 5-2, is our Boys JV Soccer team who were able to enter the ISAL playoffs! The program included 25 players from four different grade levels which made playing together as a cohesive unit challenging, but by the end of the season they were just one large group that felt comfortable with each other on and off the field. Sam Kassel ‘25 shares that the team had begun to have fun once the team chemistry was established. Sam went on to say, "we had some good practices and played some great games together." The team is definitely looking forward to rematches with all of their opposition next season.

Middle School Soccer    
It was a memorable season for our Middle School Soccer team filled with lots of development, concluding with a record of 3-3-2. Coach Elijah Kerr says, "This fall was a journey as we all looked to improve as both individuals and soccer players. I'm very proud of the growth and determination this group showed to overcome their obstacles. I know that each player will go on to do great things as they continue down their paths." We're excited to see the skills these athletes have developed carry over into the next season.

Girls Varsity Volleyball
It was a rigorous and momentous season for Girls Varsity Volleyball this year, as they competed in tournaments and back-to-back games. It was a rollercoaster ride that ended with our Lions competing in both ISAL and ACIS Playoffs, becoming the ISAL League Champions and reclaiming the throne as the ISAL Playoff Champions! Seniors Lisa Canevari, Olivia Wamble, Layla Purovic, and Mica Quelle will forever be remembered for their impactful contributions to the program's success, as evidenced by the championship banners hanging in Dwight’s Athletic Center.

Girls JV Volleyball Blue & Red
Coaches Camile Pangalangan and Jan Gallao report how much fun they had coaching so many eager athletes; from the very first day it was clear to see that there was a lot of interest in the program, so naturally everyone aimed to put their best foot forward. With the program being predominantly filled with freshmen this year, the coaches were impressed by how quickly athletes were able to grasp fresh concepts and strategies. One of the most memorable victories for the team was winning a regular season game against Packer, which eventually won the ACIS Championships. As a result of their hard work, our JV Volleyball Lions made it into the ISAL Playoffs. While they didn’t triumph there, they are motivated to fight even harder next season. Coaches Jan and Camile, state that there is a deep pool of potential to draw from which will only continue to flourish along with the program.

Middle School Volleyball Blue & Red
Seventh graders worked hard during every practice and got better in every game. The eighth grade team finished the season with a record of 7-3, fourth place in the ISAL. Led by Captains Leah Kimyagarov ’27 and Kira Stratopoulos ’27, they were very close, played well together, and showed great teamwork on the court. Chloe Tonkin ’27 and Izabella Darby ’27 were excellent servers. We expect eighth graders to be a big part of our high school team next year and we look forward to all of our seventh graders returning next season.

Varsity Cross Country   
Success came to Varsity Cross Country, as the girls placed third in the ISAL league as a team and Jamie Knox ’25 won an individual boys championship. The runners ended up competing in the NYSAIS Championship Meet which was nothing short of amazing and, as a result, we are very proud. Jack Yoon ’23 took on more of a leadership role this season, as the only senior on a young team, so it was nice to see him guiding less experienced athletes. "People might assume Cross Country is an individual sport; however, at Dwight we pushed each other to our very best this year thanks to my amazing teammates and coaches," says Jack, who will be dearly missed next year. 

Middle School Cross Country   
This fall was a season of development, as our young Middle School Cross Country runners learned proper technique while building their endurance. Coach Doug Sklar is looking forward to growing the program next year and to further establishing the cross country culture at Dwight.  

With another successful fall season on the record books, we look forward to seeing what our winter Lions will achieve!