Arts Paper
As the editorially independent arm of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the Arts Paper seeks to celebrate, explore, and investigate the fine, visual, performing and culinary arts in and around New Haven.
Teachers David Herndon and Kirk Vamvakides. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Zakai Henderson. Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Clockwise, from top: Noreishka Rivera, Naiden Alfredo Cervantes, Kenzie Harsono and Gregorio Ordaz. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Choir Director Danielle Storey, a 25-year veteran of the New Haven Public Schools who has been at Cross for two decades, with the choir. Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Second grader Olivia David, who said she was excited to see more live theater in the year ahead. Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Japhet Gonzalez cuts the ribbon Friday morning. The center image features an eagle, a nod to the school's mascot. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Robert Esposito, who students lovingly refer to as "Espo," on the first day of school last week. Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Sumiah Gay and Robert "Espo" Esposito on Thursday morning. The two started their day teaching acting to a group of seniors together. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Pat Smith and Harriett Alfred. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Amy Migliore with Ajibola Tajudeen, now a student at the Berkeley College of Music, at Co-Op graduation in June 2022. Lucy Gellman File Photo.
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Students in "Purpose," which Nikki Claxton also called a "Ode To BRAMS." Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Amelia Matthews and Adrianiz Lopez Martinez, both seventh graders at Mauro-Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Student speakers ranged from Rosa, who read poetry, to immigrant rights advocate Ambar Santiago-Rojas. Grayce Howe Photos.
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Amy Migliore with Ajibola Tajudeen, now a student at the Berkeley College of Music, at Co-Op graduation in June 2022. On Monday, NHPS Spokesperson Justin Harmon said the transfer would be temporary. Lucy Gellman File Photo.
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Senior Carizma Buonome, who is studying theater, after casting her mock vote Monday. “I’m so sad I can’t vote this year,” she said. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Sora Matta (center) as Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders. Bob (Joseph Pallo) and Randy (Cristian Ortiz) are on either side of them. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Semi Semi-Dikoko, David Sepulveda, and Aleta Staton at the Arts Awards. Judy Sirota Rosenthal File Photo with permission from the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. The second photo in this story is from the photographer Leigh Busby, used with permission.
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Taylor Emma Brunson cheers as she receives her diploma at the New Haven Academy graduation. Photos Kapp Singer.
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New Haven Adult & Continuing Education Center's graduation. Photos Kapp Singer. Wearing a royal blue robe and matching graduation cap, Miguel Loor grasped the microphone and launched into the national anthem. The audience stood, hands on their hearts. As he sang the final few bars of the song, Loor embellished on the classic melody, drawing impressed whoops from the crowd. The anthem kicked off the 2024 graduation ceremony of the New Haven Adult & Continuing Education Center (NHAEC), held Thursday morning in the auditorium of the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Loor was one of the 145 students graduating from NHAEC. “Honestly, it was so much better than expected,” said Loor, who received his High School Credit (HSC) diploma through NHAEC. “Usually when you come into places like this, it feels like you’re giving up on regular school and you’re lowering your standards, but it’s not like that at all. You go in there and the teachers treat you like human beings, like actual adults.” Miguel Loor and his mother, Maria Clark. Loor and his mother moved to New Haven seven years ago from Madrid, and Loor enrolled in Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School. He initially focused on visual art, but after one teacher told him he had potential as a singer, began pursuing music. In 2020, after starting high school at the Sound School, he released his first EP, Wolfcat. Loor’s music gained a small online following and he began performing at venues in the greater New Haven area, including the State House and Space Ballroom. To focus on his art, Loor ended up taking time off school. “One of the big reasons why I ended up coming [to NHAEC] was that my music stuff got serious,” Loor said. Going forward, he said he hopes to continue his musical career, but he wanted to finish his senior year of high school first. “I came into this country for a reason, my mom brought me here for a reason,” he said. “The least I could do was get a diploma for her.” On Thursday, Loor not only performed the national anthem to open the ceremony, but with other members of Tony Maron’s instrumental music class at NHAEC, he played guitar and led a singalong of the Black Eyed Peas’s “I’ve Got a Feeling.” Dion Joefield processes into the ceremony. This year’s graduating class included students between 17 to 60 years old. They participated across NAEHC’s numerous programs, including the High School Credit Diploma, General Educational Development Program (GED), and National External Diploma Program (NEDP). Six of this year’s students, two of whom were at the graduation, passed the U.S. naturalization exam and received their U.S. citizenship. Others gained their Certified Nurse Assistant certification, granted by NAEHC in partnership with Northeast Medical Institute. “Today we gather to acknowledge the transformative power of education at any stage of life,” said Michelle Bonora, the principal of NAEHC. “All our graduates come with a different story, but they have all overcome obstacles.” Michelle Bonora. For Christine Stewart Davis, the ceremony was a celebration of overcoming several of those obstacles. She began at NAEHC in 2018 after being told by Gateway Community College, one semester in, that she had to go back to high school. She enrolled at NAEHC and immediately connected with GED teachers Maureen Ryan. “She provided me with the most immense support and gave me the drive to complete my GED,” Davis said in a speech on Thursday. However, in 2019, a year after beginning classes, Davis was diagnosed with breast cancer. She dropped out to take care of her health. As she went through her treatment, the idea of school faded from her brain. Then, much to her surprise, she received a call from Ryan. Christine Stewart Davis. “She was caring, and understanding, and I heard the strength in her voice which convinced me to re-enroll back in adult education classes,” Davis said. And for Lachell Hall, it was her math teacher, Cara Mortillo, who was particularly memorable. “She was the best, kind-hearted, loving teacher,” Hall said. Hall, who was in and out of school since the early 2000s, decided to enroll in NAEHC two years ago. She is not quite sure what life will hold for her moving forward, but for now she wants to take some time to relax and celebrate her accomplishment. “I’m just excited right now that I finally received my diploma at the age of 42,” she said.
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Destiny Cooper, Gianni Knox, Dr. Hanan Hameen, and Madison Ennis. Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Kobe Ransome during his presentation. Grayce Howe Photos.
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Jayla Cajigas, Sophia Consolmagno and Francine Van Campen, all third graders at Hill Central Music Academy.
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Laila Kelly-Walker as Dorothy, Aaron Steed as the Tinman, Jayla Bosley as the Cowardly Lion and Dakarai Langley as the Scarecrow in Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School's production of The Wiz. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Ariel (June Lampher) and Prince Eric (Jahlil Coleman) at Thursday's production of The Little Mermaid. Photos Kapp Singer.
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American Modern Opera Company musicians Jonny Allen, Doug Balliett, and and Miranda Cuckson (left to right) in Danielle Storey's chorus class at Wilbur Cross High School. Photos Kapp Singer.
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HSC teacher Amy Brazauski and her foster son, Alex Lopes. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Tracie Ormond: "You know, not all people believe servitude has its place, but it does." Juliette Lao Photo.
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Noah Brown as Snoopy and Maria Hatje Faggion as Woodstock in Wilbur Cross High School's production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Lucy Gellman File Photo.
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Newly minted grad Paris Whitaker, a rising Howard Bison, with her friends Alexa Smith, Kadin Wooten, and Tiara Walters. All four are headed to HBCUs in the fall. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Edie Stoehr and Nadia Bellamy. Lucy Gellman.
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A still from "Survivor," choreographed by Hannah Healey and danced by her eighth grade class. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica principal dancer Tamara Noel. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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High School in the Community (HSC) freshman Jonaily Colón, who is headed to National History Day finals in Washington, D.C. this month. Lucy Gellman Photo. The image below of Colón with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is courtesy HSC.
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Left to right: Seniors Lillian Palluzzi, Chelle Swaby, Selena Zamora and Kayleigh Householder. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Rosandra Furatado: It gives you a chance to be in someone else's shoes. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Tomitsela Engel-Halfkenny. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Kiomi Rincon as Cinderella. Abiba Biao Photos.
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Patricio Sosa III (in foreground). From the moment he stepped onstage, he mastered the language and the timing of Shakespeare. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Loreen Lawrence. Her sister, Doreen Abubakar, is to her right in the background. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Top: Elijah Cross said that the performance has made him think about the power of working as a team. Bottom: The run-through gets into full swing. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Ryan Minezzi and Mahari Kerrison. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Belton: "At 38 years, I'm really looking to impact students in another direction." Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Dalontrez Galberth, who plays Wes, and Destinique James, who plays Roxana. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Tavares Bussey: “When I tell you, I am excited to get up in the morning and come to work, because I get to have a hands-on impact on the thing that gets them [students] up in the morning. That makes them want to be creative." Lucy Gellman Photo.
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Ashanti Troutman, who will be a sophomore at the school, and incoming freshman Ava Newton. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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One of the pieces of embroidery Z brought with her when her family fled Afghanistan. Z asked the Arts Paper not to use photographs of her or her father.
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HSC freshman freshman Tioana Williams. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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Nicdaniel Charles drew a fleet of blue eighth notes on a makeshift music scale. In a glowing one-inch box beside him, Mia Rivera watched carefully. Her pink headphones glinted above her matching pink t-shirt. A few boxes away, Lysha Owuor tracked the notes one by one as they appeared. Charles looked away from the score and peered into the screen.
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Willie Gary, Meridaliz Delima, and Mykell Rivera pitch New Haven Leaders before judges. Stephen Urchick Photos.
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Briana Bellinger-Dawson and Denise Cox role play a customer being followed by a security guard. Lucy Gellman Photos.
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