Two kids, both of whom graduated a couple of weekends ago—Anna with a Master’s from BU in Urban Affairs and Dan with a Bachelor’s from Bridgewater State in Music Education. Today we celebrated them and ate cake. So proud of them both.

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Dan’s last concert with the Bridgewater State University Jazz Band was tonight. With his upright by his side, he sang “Almost Like Being in Love” for the only vocal performance of the night. It was a great show by the whole group. I remember the first time we toured the school (with Dan, Anna was already student there) and we met the music department. They were very supportive of him and invited him to join a rehearsal that afternoon which took place on the stage he was on tonight. We got to sit in the back of the room – in seats I have sat in many times since and watched as a ‘High School Dan’ performed with college kids. Now, six years later, he is one of the oldest on the stage, owning it every time he steps on it. I will miss seeing him play with this band and his remarkable instructor, Vlad. I know there will be many more stages in his future; I know he will take what he got from the stage at Boyden Hall with him.

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A show that has been on the family calendar for over a year is Dan’s Senior recital at Bridgewater State, his Level 300 required graduate recital. Horace Mann Auditorium at Boyden Hall was filled with friends and family, all there to witness this milestone for Dan. There were two very different sets. The first set was all classical pieces in French, German, Italian, and English. Suited up looking very proper and professional, accompanied by James Hay on piano, he just sang. He uses his powerful voice to bring emotion to these (foreign for the most part) lyrics, some of which are hundreds of years old.

After a brief intermission, removal of the suit coat rolled up sleeves, and his guitar and another second set was his music. The same passion, just as emotional, but all words and music were written by Dan, most as recently as this year, one as young as weeks ago. It felt like a night at the opera and a dive bar without leaving your chair. And he made it work. His mother accompanied him on his older song, Daydreamer. I somehow made it on stage, too. This was Dan’s show. He planned everything down to the photo he wanted me to take. The one above during the song Love Again. In the chaos of setting up, the back door was not opened – which I was told to sneak in and grab this photo from. After leaving the room only to be locked out from backstage, I came back and had to make the decision to storm the stage. Sneaking up the side steps, noticed by all, captured on video, it was worth it. He was right. This photo needed to be captured.

We could not be more proud of him and his accomplishments. We get to see the planning, the practicing, the stress, the stress… the stress… that goes into all this. This was his night to take the stage, and he owned it. Those interested can see the whole show. There is a playlist that has some separate songs, the Classical Set and then the Orignal Songs Set. I added a few below; Love Again is where the photo above is from, getting Old was the closer, and sing-along where he taught the chorus to the audience, and Quanto e Bella from the opera L’elistir d’amore.

The Bridgewater State Jazz band was on fire last night. Dan played bass most of the night and even got the mic in hand to sing ‘Well Alright, Ok, You Win.’ I am biased, of course, but it was awesome.

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Back to Bridgewater State University for Dan’s second concert this week. This time Chorus. An incredible show. I have no idea what his sheet music says, but it sounded beautiful. though my favorite was Dan’s solo on Hallelujah.

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