Warde Graduate Hosts Successful Second Annual Guest Artist Day at St. Emery Parish in Fairfield

Saint Emery Parish, Fairfield, held its second annual Guest Artist Day on Sunday, June 22, at the 9 o'clock Mass, according to Parish Music Director and Organist Anthony Procaccini (pictured at the organ below), a 1976 graduate of Andrew Warde High School.

Tenor David Finley, pictured below, joined the Saint Emery Festival Choir and teamed with soprano Rose Kovach on Cesar Franck's "Panis Angelicus." Procaccini led the singers.

Many outsiders attended, and a free reception was held after Mass. In addition to marking the end of the choir season, the day is used to thank the singers for their efforts.

Alto Phyllis Simon commented: " It was a great year, and a fantastic Guest Artist Day. (I'm) looking forward to next season!" Alto Marie Warren stated: "I enjoyed participating.... and (this is) a nice group of people to sing with."

Procaccini notes, "The summer is normally a time when church choirs don't rehearse, and we follow the norm at Saint Emery's. I will, though, use the time to recruit new members, research new music material for the coming season, and move ahead with much-needed organ repair and restoration."

In addition, Procaccini hopes to bring the choir to venues outside the parish in the coming year, though he stops short at naming the potential venues. "I'm keeping it a surprise for now," he quips. Procaccini believes out-of-church performances serve as a great motivator to choir members.