The sound of music and an atmosphere of community and remembrance filled Barasch Field as Rockville Centre residents and visitors gathered for the village’s annual Music and Fireworks celebration. The South Shore Symphony provided the soundtrack to a summer night capped by a spectacular display in the sky created by the famed Grucci family.
The July 11 event kicked off with Jody Siegel singing the national anthem as the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department presented the colors, setting the stage for a night that celebrated tradition and the people who helped build it.
South Shore Symphony violinist Greg Krajci served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, taking over a role previously held by longtime orchestra leader Wayne Lipton, who died in February.
Before introducing the symphony, Mayor Francis X. Murray addressed the crowd and paid tribute to Lipton, whose passion for music and community helped make the annual event a cherished village tradition.
“Each year, Wayne Lipton proudly led the South Shore Symphony, bringing music and meaning to this evening for so many families,” Murray said. “While he is not here with us physically, we know he is looking down and continuing to lead the spirit.”
Lipton’s widow, Karen, and their two children attended the celebration, with his son performing as a cellist with the orchestra — continuing the musical legacy that Lipton helped establish.
“Because of him, nights like this became cherished traditions where neighbors gathered, music filled the air and memories were made,” Murray said.
Krajci said that stepping into the emcee’s role had special meaning. “Wayne used to emcee this, so this meant a lot,” Krajci said after the show. “It was really nice to be able to host everybody and do what we all love doing, which is coming and supporting the orchestra.”
As the sun set, the outfield grass on both baseball fields at Barasch began filling with families, friends and neighbors from Rockville Centre and beyond. By the time the fireworks began, the crowd had grown so large that little open grass remained.
The symphony, under the direction of Eileen Murphy, performed for just over an hour, offering a wide-ranging program that showcased the orchestra’s versatility. The set included patriotic favorites, Broadway selections, movie themes and classical works.
Among the highlights were John Philip Sousa’s “Washington Post March,” an Armed Forces Salute honoring veterans, a medley from “Hamilton” including “You’ll Be Back,” “Helpless,” “My Shot,” “Dear Theodosia,” “It’s Quiet Uptown” and “One Last Time,” as well as selections from “Moana 2,” “Apollo 13,” “An American in Paris,” Irving Berlin’s “America,” “Variations on a Shaker Melody,” “The Syncopated Clock” and music from “A Chorus Line.”
The performance also featured a tribute to veterans, with audience members standing as each branch of the military was recognized during the Armed Forces Salute.
For Lynbrook resident Valerie Dursi-Barbuti, who lives just blocks from Barasch Field, the evening represented a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
Dursi-Barbuti grew up playing violin, and said that watching the symphony perform helped inspire her own musical journey. Now she shares the experience with her children.
“I grew up playing the violin, and I was a competitive violinist,” she said. “I started with watching this orchestra here. And then it’s always been just running in the field. And now my kids do this.”
Dursi-Barbuti said that her 5-year-old daughter had already embraced the annual celebration. “Since last year, she’s been asking, ‘When is the fireworks party?’” she said. “She has all her friends and our neighbors. It’s amazing.”
Following the symphony’s performance, the crowd turned its attention to the sky as the Grucci family presented a nearly 20-minute fireworks spectacular featuring booming shells and bursts of color that illuminated the field.
One special moment, Krajci said, came during the fireworks display when “Over the Rainbow” — Lipton’s favorite song — was played.
“It was really nice to hear that in the tribute,” he said. “It’s nice that we’re still doing all these great things and honoring Wayne and still being able to play together.”
After the fireworks, the symphony returned to the stage for four additional songs, closing the night in patriotic fashion with Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
