Our Lady of Mercy School - Lore Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

Page 72 text:

Music Department Professional in Depth and Dimension A highly respected virtuoso of music both here among students and faculty at Mercy and throughout the state — Mr. Micheal Bistritzsky. Mr. Bistritzsky is the director of Mercy’s string ensemble, instructs all string students and conducts a daily music theory class. He can claim many present symphony members as former students as well as a distinguished career as a performer, conducter and arranger on his own. Mr. Bistritzsky comes to Mercy after intensive work at Cass Technical High School. A favorite with music department students, the faculty of the Music Academy considers him a most valuable asset. Mr. Louis Aloia conducts a full schedule of private lessons in the major woodwind instruments — clarinet, saxophone and flute. His students have performed as accompanists for the glee clubs during their annual school performances. Mr. Aloia is described as a ‘‘pro”’ by his fellow music department faculty members and indeed he is — with over 25 years of teaching and performing experience. SN

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Top left: Michelle Laporte develops her skill of working on the pot- ter’s wheel. Top right: Teri Stricker gets the feel of clay. Bottom right: One of the new additions to the ceramics department—a raku kiln. Bottom left: Art students work diligently at the pencils pieces.

Page 73 text:

Pianist Matt Michaels is a popular and fa- miliar figure to music students. Mr. Mi- chaels is instructor to most of Mercy’s as- piring piano virtuosos. He arranges numer- ous works for the various glee clubs and the Mercyaires as well as performing in the Christmas, Spring and Jazz Concerts. A well known musician in professional circles, he is also a most important factor in the growth of the music department. Mr. Eugene Stewart, percussion teacher, comes to Mercy with an impressive record of performance and teaching experience. A graduate of the Henry Adler School of Percussion, Mr. Stewart has worked exten- sively in New York City, including a per- formance at Carnegie Hall. He has been working in the Detroit area for the past nine years — currently playing with the symphony on occasion, with the Bobby Laurel Trio and doing studio sessions with Jack Brokenshaw and our own Matt Mi- cheals. Although he is new to Mercy this year, Mr. Stewart has been an instructor in the various school systems for the past thirteen years. Almost any Mercy student is aware of Mr. Ron English’s work on the guitar. A true master of the instrument, Mr. English is proficient on all of its many varieties. He is the instructor of the Social Guitar class and keeps a full schedule of private les- sons as well. A talented composer and ar- ranger, Mr. English has appeared in sever- al of Mercy’s music programs. The March Jazz Concert featured an original compo- sition performed by his own group, the Head Arrangement. As is the case with several other members of the music department, Mr. English has played in an impressive number of local groups and clubs throughout the area for years. A multi-talented man, he formerly taught creative writing at Eastern Michigan University. Far upper left: Sophomore violinist Mar- ianne Pavach in concert before an open- school assembly. Left center: Mary Lay practices Gershwin. Lower left: Mary Beth Purcott, first year percussion student. Far lower left: Flute student Karen Cromwell.