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.