An afternoon of song: Town celebrates Make Music Day

 by Mark Jahne

Editor

Submitted Photos

Music can lift one’s spirits. That’s one of many reasons why there is an international Make Music Day. This year it was celebrated on June 21. It’s the second time Rocky Hill has been a participant.

This year Rocky Hill Arts Now took over the event planning and execution.

The Rocky Hill Congregational Church sang outside the church.

“Last year, the town organized it,” Mayor Allan Smith said.

He is the founder and former chairperson of RHAN. He remains on its board of directors but stepped down from the presidency when he was elected mayor this past November.

His wife Arianna Baret Peralta is the new chairperson of the arts-oriented nonprofit organization. She was pleased with how the day transpired.

“The goal of our organization is to support public art in town,” she said.

Lynn Tracey and Bette Haskell performed in Chapin Hall after the morning service at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church.

“We just had a project approved to paint two crosswalks” in the colors of the Pride movement, Baret Peralta added.

One is located at the entrance to the town Human, Youth and Senior Services Department. The other runs between the public library and post office on Church Street.

She credited member Alexis Chiucarello with taking the lead and doing much of the work to ensure that Make Music Day was a success. Chiucarello said the focus was on promoting the arts. In this case, it was musical arts.

Fans of saxophone music enjoyed a performance by the Foundry Saxophone Quartet at the Rocky Hill Historical Society.

“Several of us in the group have musical connections. It’s an international event showcasing the power of music to build community,” she said. “We’re hoping to get bigger and better every year.”

The Gumbares Italian Trio performed for residents and staff at MapleView Health & Rehabilitation Center. The musicians are, from left, Lynn Tracey, Ed Chiucarello and Marcus Centola.

The music began at 10 a.m. and continued until 6 p.m. at various locations. It kicked off with a patriotic sing-along outside Town Hall. The Rocky Hill Congregational Church Choir performed next along with the duo of Lynn Tracey and Bette Haskell.

The Hill Tunes, a musical ensemble created by local teenagers, sang in front of the Intuition at Hand shop.

The teenage musical ensemble Hill Tunes sang across the street in front of the Intuition at Hand shop. RHAN sponsored karaoke singing down the street at Fire Station 1.

The Gumbares Italian Trio entertained at MapleView Health & Rehabilitation Center and things wrapped up with the Foundry Saxophone Quartet at the Rocky Hill Historical Society.

Fire Station 1 on Old Main Street hosted karaoke. Shown are Arianna Baret Peralta, Mayor Allan Smith and Diana D’Angelo.

The international sponsor of this day is the Make Music Alliance nonprofit organization. The local event was made possible with the support of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts. RHL

This rhythm bicycle outside Academy Hall on Old Main Street was made from drum kit parts by Tom Brown of Wethersfield, a cycling enthusiast and the founder of Bike Karma. It is part of a public art initiative.