Kelly Saiz
News Editor
Students, faculty and community members gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 27 in the Wagner Room for the Love is Respect Concert, a benefit for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC). Located in Norwalk and Bridgeport, the DVCC has operated since 1997 as a resource for domestic abuse. The concert, featuring 12 student acts, raised $550.00 towards the DVCC.
Senior Catherine Chiocchi, who conceptualized the fundraiser last April, organized Wednesday’s concert. Catherine was alarmed by statistics she learned about in health class and decided to take action. “I’ve always been interested in women’s issues and I wanted to do something to help my town,” Catherine said. “With the recession, especially, there has been a lack of funding. I really wanted to help the DVCC out.”
In New Canaan alone over the last year there have been nearly a hundred cases of domestic violence. Catherine and others involved in the DVCC believe that awareness will “get the issue out in the open” or, as in the words of student performing group The Magical Music for Life Singers, create “One town, One voice.”
Catherine worked with the Youth Adult Partnership Board and social worker Jackie D’Louhy to produce the concert. She also contacted history teacher Marianne Cohen who became the concert’s faculty advisor and poster designer. “She really helped the idea get rolling. She is such a great motivator,” Catherine said.
Once Catherine had made arrangements for the concert, she contacted student-performers to participate in the show. Senior singer-songwriter Elizabeth Lewis who performed covers of Taylor Swift’s “Our Song” and Jay Sean’s “Down” said she was glad to participate. “It sounded like a great cause so I thought I’d participate,” Elizabeth said. “[Domestic violence] exists more than people probably think.”
The show opened with the NCHS Jazz Band who performed “Checks in the Mail” followed by an improvisation number. Other acts included senior violinist Anna Brissie, sophomore violist Alex Kudryzcki, senior sing-songwriter Stewart Taylor, and Ballet for Athletes.
NCHS Voice, a club of artists with a mission to “Speak up”, made their first non-club performance at the Love is Respect Concert. Club co-founders senior Nick Zanca and junior Tyler Giggi and sophomore member Alyssa Thompson performed spoken word pieces. Nick’s performed his piece entitled “lions among men.” “It’s about being a senior and realizing that within a year you’ll be out in the world,” Nick said. “It’s about relationships with friends.”
“I thought that it went so well. I was blown away by the talent that everyone had,” Catherine said of the concert. The two-hour long concert was not rehearsed beforehand. “I thought it went very seamlessly,” she said.
According to Catherine there is a definite possibility for the concert to become an annual event. She had two stage managers, junior Samantha Tesluk and sophomore Hayley Charas, for the concert and said that she hopes that they continue it next year.
Catherine says Domestic Violence Awareness Month serves as a reminder of just how alive the issue is. “Domestic violence happens here as much as anywhere,” she said. “We are looking to make a culture change to eradicate this social issue.”
Photos by Elizabeth Kilbride
