How often does a teacher spend 38 years in the same school system? Not often, but High School South’s band director, Anthony Pappalardo, has done just that. The driving force behind the school’s music program since the school opened, he has instilled his love of music in the thousands of students in bands, ensembles, and marching band through the years. On June 3 he led the bands for the last time with close to 100 alumni and parents of alumni on hand. The evening ended with a performance of “Stars and Stripes Forever” with a full stage of standing current and former students playing the traditional final song at the spring concert.
A special band, created for the event, performed Frank Ticheli’s “An American Elegy,” a piece written in memorial to the students at Columbine High School. The current band students have recently played it at Lincoln Center and it features a trumpet solo (Pappalardo’s instrument of choice). Mike Davis, a longtime faculty member of the Pirate Marching Band and a Plainsboro resident, conducted the piece. Alumni who volunteered to play received copies of the music through E-mail and practiced on their own. A 40-minute rehearsal held the evening of the performance yielded a standing ovation from the audience just a couple of hours later.
Pappalardo, raised in a family of musicians, began playing the trumpet at the age of seven, and conducted bands as a child. During high school he played in the concert band, jazz band, and marching band. He received music education degrees from William Paterson University and Trenton State College. He performed in several bands during his six years in the National Guard Army Band.
His teaching career began in New Brunswick and three years later he accepted a position at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School. During the years he taught bands and orchestras, and was the first coordinator of music for the district.
Most of the celebration was coordinated by Chris Bromberg, Class of 2010. Committee members included Tracy Mishchell, Jeanine Asay, Raj Manimaran, Rebecca Finnie, Olivia Gladwin, and Kyle Houck. “We brainstormed because we believe he has done so much for the program and for us personally,” says Bromberg, now a student at Oberlin Conservatory. “We decided that the best way to celebrate his career in music and teaching was to gather those that he taught and show him what we had learned by playing a piece.”
During his years at South Bromberg played the tuba in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra, and the Marching Band. “This is very similar to what happens in the film, `Mr. Holland’s Opus,’” he says. “We just knew that we needed to do something for this man, for all that he has done and all that he means to us.” Pappalardo plans to spend his free time playing his trumpet in bands, orchestras, and musicals in the area.
There will be a reception honoring Pappalardo on Tuesday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. in commons 1 at South. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Visit www.piratemarchingband.or or E-mail scott.collins@ww-p.org. Tickets are $10.
— Lynn Miller
Tony Pappalardo: Retirement Celebration, High School South, Commons I, 346 Clarksville Road, West Windsor. Tuesday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. $10 includes light refreshments and gifts. Indicate if you would like to be a speaker. Donations invited. Make check payable to Scott Collins and send to him at High School South, 346 Clarksville Road, Princeton Junction 08850. Visit website for up-to-do information. 609-716-5050. www.piratemarchingband.org.
