Herald Neighbors

East Rockaway hosts music and art showcase in Memorial Park

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Music was in the air at Memorial Park on Aug. 15 as the East Rockaway Recreation Department hosted a Music and Art Showcase.

With art displayed along the front of the stage, musicians performed various original songs and covers from a wide array of artists for the dozens of attendees. The event was organized by Recreation Coordinator Nancy Landerer, while Demi Lonergan also helped coordinate it, with the help of music technician Sofia Bertolotti, sound assistant and photographer Anthony Romano and sound technician and parent volunteer Chris Bertolotti, who coached the performers and provided a sound system for the event.

The outing included musical performances by Katharine Calabrese, Phil Perazzo, Gale Calabrese, Michael Mistreta, Jack Neary, Sofia Bertolotti and Michelle Landerer.

Neary and Gale and Katharine Calabrese each sang original songs, and Katharine and Gale also teamed up for a duet that was written by Gale. Katharine was accompanied by Perazzo on guitar and Jesse Powers on drums as they covered “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac, “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain and “Fallin’ for Ya” by Teen Beach Movie.”

Other recording artists whose songs rang through the summer night included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Coldplay, Ed Sheerin, Oasis and Lorde. In addition to the scintillating songs, Zack Olewnicki, Taylor Rampulla and Sofia Bertolotti displayed their original artwork.

At the start of the evening’s festivities, Mayor Bruno Romano welcomed the guests, who turned out at the event despite it being pushed back two days because of rain.

Romano said he was proud to see a lot of skillful performances at the event and that he hoped to make it a yearly outing. “I was amazed on how much talent we have in our community, and I was so happy that we are able to have such an event whereby individual talent is highlighted,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone whom participated that evening, along with the staff members and volunteers who put several weeks of hard work in putting this event together.”