Arts
The Canisius community recognizes the value of performing on stage as part of a well-rounded secondary education. Our student instrumentalists, singers, and actors excel in numerous performances throughout each school year. Students are afforded opportunities to perform as soloists and ensemble members in concerts, as leads and cast members in plays and musicals, and to fulfill vital “behind the scenes” roles for each production.
Aside from contributing to the music ministry at school Masses, choral students perform in several concerts throughout the school year, both at the school and in the wider Western New York community. A particularly moving Canisius tradition is the presentation of “Lessons and Carols” each Christmastime at local churches. Concert band, string orchestra, guitar ensembles, and handbell ensembles likewise present several concerts and chamber music recitals each year. For the theater-minded, each year a major play and musical are produced.
For more information on fine arts, please email Mr. Kevin Durkin, fine arts department chair, at durkink@canisiushigh.org, or call 716.882.0466 x308.
Center for the Arts
Canisius purchased the Conners mansion at 1140 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo in May of 2017 to serve as the school's center for the arts. The property is directly across West Ferry Street from the main Canisius campus. The13,000 square foot building allowed Canisius to expand its campus and deepen its commitment to the arts as part of the quality Jesuit education offered at the school. Following renovations, the center opened in January 2018 with dedicated rehearsal spaces for music ensembles, individual practice spaces for student-musicians, and architecture, ceramics, sculpture and art classrooms. The first floor serves as gallery space for art exhibits, and as a venue for special events.
Explore the 360 degree view of the band/ensemble space.
Explore the 360 degree view of the chorus space.
Click here to see photos of the center for the arts classrooms.
CHS Drama Club's 2024 musical: "The Addams Family"
The CHS Drama Guild delivered another great run of performances this past weekend with three tremendously entertaining nights of "The Addams Family."
The cast, crew and musicians delighted Scaccia Auditorium audiences under the outstanding guidance of teacher Hayes (director), retired teacher Bill Group (music director), former CHS teacher Mia LaMarco (choreography director, set builder) along with the makeup artistry of Sarah Medina.
These photos are also available via canisiushigh.org/student-life/arts
Cast:
Gomez – Corbin Bryant ’26
Morticia – Marlowe Bloomberg (Williamsville North senior)
Wednesday – Madelyn Goldberg (Nichols School junior)
Lucas – Rocco Panzica ’25
Fester – Blaine Benson ’24
Grandma – Mallory Unwin (Buffalo Seminary sophomore)
Mal – Maxwell Martineck ’24
Alice – Ally Dolan (Williamsville North senior)
Pugsley – Jack Eberl ’27
Lurch – Dylan Leong ’25
Ancestors:
Vaughn Beauford ’27
Carter Bryant ’25
Jude Delaney ’26
Greta Golembiewski (Nardin Academy junior)
Julia Gueli (Sacred Heart senior)
Mikayla Betton (Nardin junior)
Kai Martin (Christian Central sophomore)
Connor Bacon ’27
Antonio Falletta ’25
Mark Jasen ’27
Aiden Spurlock ’25
Lauren Cat (Amherst freshman)
Elizabeth Stewart (Amherst freshman)
Molly Dengler (Amherst freshman)
Crew:
Dave Hayes '87 - Director
Mia LaMarco - Choreography Director and Set Builder
William Group - Music Director
Robert LaMarco - Costumes & Props
John Shotwell - Sound
Sara Medina - Makeup Artist
Elias Attea ’26 - Stage Manager
DaQuam Williams ’26 - Lights
Daniel Brumbaugh ’25 - Lights
Brendan Copeland '26 - Lights
Matt Hassenfratz ’24 - Sound
Noah Heflin ’24 - Stage Crew
Anthony Rainey ’25 - Stage Crew
Nick Thomas ’24 - Stage Crew
The Pit orchestra:
CHS Concert Band and Orchestra Jennifer Johnson - Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Saxophone
Nathan Mascia ’23 - Saxophone
Simon Reyda ’27 - Saxophone
Bridget Ludwig - Flute, Saxophone
Nia King - Clarinet, Saxophone
Sam Gugliuzza ’25 - Violin
Francis Eskra ’23 - Violin
Melissa Goldberg - Violin
Ken Farrell - Trumpet
Owen Close ’23 - Trumpet
James Eskra ’26 - Keyboard
Jack Kulp - Bass
Austin Jones ’24 - Guitar
Brody Murray ’26 - Percussion
Latin teacher John Anderson - Percussion
Spring Fine Arts Night 2023
Spring Fine Arts Night 2023 Musicians
String Ensemble
Violin: John Eugino; Cello: Joshua Hemmerling, Alexander Nikitenko; Double Bass: Alexander Engelhaupt; with William Oh, cello.
Guitar Ensemble
Ryan Berenji, Anthony Notino, Constantine Santacrose, Octavian Santacrose, Patrick Sullivan, Nicholas Thomas; with Alexander Engelhaupt and William Oh, cello.
Chorus
Blaine Benson, Alexander Bowers, Carter Bryant, Corbin Bryant, Martin Cohn, Rory Dwyer, James Eskra, Theodore Hibbard, Angel Lopez Castillo, Michael Masci, Zachary Mietus, Rocco Panzica, Kenneth Rutkowski.
Handbell Ensemble (Blue I)
Luke Boryszak, Dieudonne Byaombe, Brendan Copeland, Nazariy Drofych, Kyle Janca, Tyler Meredith, Daniel McQueary, Baron Nieves, Gerald Short, Zayar Wang, Kayden Wayne.
Jazz Ensemble
Alto Saxophone: Ryan Stravino; Trombone/Euphonium Trumpet: Joe Askar, Brayden Eppig, Owen Close, Connor Devans; Tenor/Baritone Saxophone: Nathan Masica; Guitar: Caleb Anderson, Austin Jones; Percussion: Patrick Nettina, Elliott DeRose, Ryan Zgoda; Piano: James Eskra; Bass: Ryan Berenji, Alexander Engelhaupt
Handbell Ensemble (Blue Il)
Lucas Bonilla, Daniel Candelario, Nicholas Ciancio, Matthew Enright, Matthew Jackson, Patrick Karl, Tyler Kubiak, Elijah McKissack, Matthew Murad, Noah Trzaska.
Concert Band
Flute: Antonio Falletta; Bass Clarinet: Cooper Biersbach; Alto Saxophone: Joseph Skoumpris, Ryan Stravino, Austin Xiao; Tenor Saxophone: Nathan Mascia; Trumpet: Thomas Askar, Zack Benczkowski, Aidan Devans, Nicholas Marcello, Noah Rajecki; Euphonium: Joe Askar, Jonathon Burroughs, Evan Mitskovski; Trombone: Brayden Eppig, David Romanowich; Tuba: Aiden Spurlock; Percussion: Elliott DeRose, Augustus Falvo, Brody Murray, Nicholas Scime, Ryan Zgoda.
Music teacher and Band and Orchestra Director Jennifer Johnson conducted the string ensemble, handbell ensembles, jazz ensemble and concert band. Fine Arts Chairman Kevin Durkin '98 conducted the chorus; religion and music teacher Eric Koessler '84 directed the guitar ensemble.
CHS Drama Guild's 2023 musical: "The Drowsy Chaperone"
The CHS Drama Guild presented "The Drowsy Chaperone" for three evenings to standing ovations at our historic Scaccia Auditorium.
Audiences saw our students perform along with their fellow outstanding cast members from Clarence, Nardin, Williamsville North, Nichols and Sacred Heart.
See additional photos and social media on The Drowsy Chaperone.
Cast:
Man in Chair: Thomas Webb '23
Mrs. Tottendale: Clara Boglioli (Clarence HS senior)
Underling: Rocco Panzica '25
Robert: Michael Scime '23
George: Rory Dwyer '23
Feldzig: Dylan Leong '25
Kitty: Madelyn Goldberg (Nichols School sophomore)
Aldolpho: Blaine Benson '24
Janet Van de Graaf: Paige Hurwitz (Clarence HS senior)
Drowsy Chaperone: Charlotte Nelson (Nardin Academy senior)
Trix: Ryen Nazzaro (Clarence HS senior)
Gangsters: Carter Bryant '25 and Corbin Bryant '26
Superintendent: Allison Dolan (Williamsville North junior)
Reporters: Joe Teresi '25 and Jude Delaney '26
Featured Dancers: Allison Dolan, Greta Golembiewski (Nardin Academy sophomore), Mikayla Betton (Nardin Academy sophomore), Eszter Magyari (Nardin Academy junior), Kai Martin (Nardin Academy freshman)
Dance Captain: Ryen Nazzaro
Ensemble: Eleny Aman, Betial Eyassu, Elia Rios, Julia Gueli, Aiden Spurlock, Antonio Falletta, Angel Lopez Castillo, Lio Lichens, Jack Freeman
Crew:
Director: David Hayes
Assistant Director: Mia LaMarco
Music Director: Bill Group
Choreographer: Mia LaMarco
Costume Designer: Robert LaMarco
Pit Conductor: Bill Group
Technical Director: Mia LaMarco
Sound Designer: John
Stage Manager: Patrick Gibbons
Props Master: Isabella Doyle
Front of House Manager: Dylan Heyworth
Set builders: Mia LaMarco and Conor Shea
Stage Crew: Olivia, Sam, John Whirl, Caleb Anderson, Daquam Williams, Landon Fried
Pit Orchestra:
Jennifer Johnson - Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Nathan Mascia - Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Ken - Trumpet
Owen Close - Trumpet
Connor Devans - Trumpet
Brayden Eppig - Trombone
Joe Askar - Trombone
James Eskra - Keyboard 1
Melissa - Keyboard 2 (Violin)
Jack - Bass
Ryan Zgoda - Percussion
Patrick Nettina - Percussion
John Anderson - Percussion
Fall Fine Arts Night 2022
Fall Fine Arts Night 2022 Musicians
String Ensemble
Violin: John Eugino; Cello: Joshua Hemmerling, Alexander Nikitenko; Double Bass: Alexander Engelhaupt.
Guitar Ensemble
Ryan Berenji, Anthony Notino, Constantine Santacrose, Octavian Santacrose, Patrick Sullivan, Nicholas Thomas; with William Oh, cello.
Chorus
Blaine Benson, Alexander Bowers, Carter Bryant, Corbin Bryant, Martin Cohn, Rory Dwyer, James Eskra, Theodore Hibbard, Angel Lopez Castillo, Michael Masci, Zachary Mietus, Rocco Panzica, Kenneth Rutkowski.
Handbell Ensemble (Gold I)
Oscar Bruce, Daniel Brumbaugh, Cameron Culligan, Joseph DeTamble, Matthew Dionne, Patrick Enright, Robel Eyassu, Henry Kumiega, James Okun, Robert Peters, Broderick Raczyk.
Jazz Ensemble
Trumpet: Owen Close, Connor Devans; Guitar: Caleb Anderson; Drumset: Patrick Nettina; Keyboard: James Eskra.
Handbell Ensemble (Gold Il)
Liam Ainslie, Daniel Ball, Louis Civisca, Patrick Cullinan, Joseph Den Haese, Marc Felicetta, Aidan Milbrand, Nicholas Miranda, Cormac Schaeffer, Colin Tupis.
Concert Band
Flute: Antonio Falletta; Bass Clarinet: Cooper Biersbach; Alto Saxophone: Joseph Skoumpris, Ryan Stravino, Austin Xiao; Tenor Saxophone: Nathan Mascia; Trumpet: Thomas Askar, Zack Benczkowski, Aidan Devans, Nicholas Marcello, Noah Rajecki; Euphonium: Joe Askar, Jonathon Burroughs, Evan Mitskovski; Trombone: Brayden Eppig, David Romanowich; Tuba: Aiden Spurlock; Percussion: Elliott DeRose, Augustus Falvo, Brody Murray, Nicholas Scime, Ryan Zgoda.
Music teacher and Band and Orchestra Director Jennifer Johnson conducted the string ensemble, handbell ensembles, jazz ensemble and concert band. Fine Arts Chairman Kevin Durkin '98 conducted the chorus; religion and music teacher Eric Koessler '84 directed the guitar ensemble.
