Church fundraiser hits the right note

By Gerry Brodnitzki

Despite the prospect of a snowy evening and some last-minute glitches, the level of enthusiasm in Klauer Hall was palpable. Not to mention the level of noise. The Battle of the Bands, a fundraiser for the Church of the Immaculate Conception’s youth ministry program, turned out to be a thumping success.

Karen Gundlach, a parishioner, Sunday school teacher, and also a sophomore and band member at the Gilbert School came up with the idea. It was a first for the church. Karen’s dad, Hank, of South Norfolk Lumber Company built the stage the night before the event, helped by ninth graders Adam Torrant and Mike Rubin, as well as brothers Brody and Brendan Christinat.  Local musician John Bazzano came with microphones and amplifiers while his sister, Mary, dropped off a gift certificate her Norfolk Corner boss, Justin Vagliano, had kindly donated.

Fourth grader Bethany Christinat, violin in hand, decided she would really like to enter and play “Minuet Two.”  Then Kestrel Thorne-Kannalis, learned that she could get a free meal ticket if she played an instrument or sang, so without hesitation she borrowed a violin from her pal Kaelin Margaret Hester, and got into the act playing “Boil Them Cabbages.” Kaelin later performed “Pachelbel’s Canon in D,” with her dad, John, also on violin, and Quincy Childs on cello.

By 7:00 p.m. when the show was due to begin, the snow was coming down hard but the organizers could not postpone. There were already more than 150 people inside the hall! The church’s new pastor, Father Paniagua, welcomed everyone and gave all a blessing.

First on stage was Norfolk’s Andy Styles singing and playing guitar and harmonica. Fifth grader Alanna Sinclair sang a cappella, her soul-filled version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Josh De Cerbo gave his own rendition of a Jimmy Buffet song, “Boat Drinks. The last to perform before the main event was a Norfolk group comprised of Taylor Allyn, oboe, Quincy Childs now playing flute, and Gerry Christinat singing.

Then came the four teenage bands to do battle, some of them waiting almost four hours to get onstage. Bootleg Bullet, from Regional 7, performed first.  With Jason Morneault on drums, Devin Gilbert, guitar and Connor McManamy, bass guitar, the crowd roared their approval. Hybrid Tea Rose, a band from Housatonic Regional 1, came next and impressed the audience with their unique style. Jerad Lauzier was on drums, Sam McGarrity, guitar and Matt Lancto, bass guitar.  Next to strut their stuff was MILO from the Gilbert School.  Their members were brothers Dan and Travis Dings, playing guitar and bass guitar respectively, with Steve Carr on drums.  A second band from Gilbert with the name Not an Exit, featured Alan Nero on drums and Sean Flynn, Jim Kochiss, Connor Morgan, Mary Gollan and Bill Brodnitzki. In first place was MILO from Gilbert; runners-up were Housatonic’s Hybrid Tea Rose. The other two bands tied for third place.  In the soloist category, the votes went to John Bazzano, runner-up was Alanna Sinclair and third place went to Andy Styles.

The band Milo, pictured at top won Norfolk’s Battle of the Bands this year. They are, from left, Travis Dings, bass guitar; Dan Dings, guitar; l and Steve Carr, drums. Photo by Robin Gundlach.