By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Walpole High School’s auditorium was crowded with former students and friends of longtime music teacher Michael Falker for a Ten-Year Memorial Concert of his passing. More than 65 former students participated in the event.
The program began with video clips of Mr. Falker in action. Through the clips, even someone who never met Falker could tell that he was one-of-a-kind, larger than life, and a friend and music taskmaster to his grateful students. The whole event was coordinated by alumni of Falker’s music classes and ensembles in an extraordinary showing of love for their teacher.
A chorus of alumni assembled to perform at the memorial, led by former teacher Lynda Maccini Pavloff. They sang choral highlights from “Wicked”, “Aurora Borealis (A Song of Alaska),” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” all with great feeling and attention to accuracy and musicality. Their diction was superb, as the words of their pieces were easily understood.
Similarly, alumni musicians came together as an orchestra to play pieces in honor of their beloved teacher. Andrew Hazerjain ‘14 conducted “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Andrew Bedrossian ‘07 and current orchestra director conducted “Rákóczy March,” and Brian Hazerjian ‘14 conducted “Dream Pantomime from Hansel and Gretel,” which was arranged by Falker himself. Michelle Murray ‘15, soprano, and Joe Burke ‘15, tenor, were soloists. The orchestra played with a great range of dynamics and beautiful tone.
During the heartfelt memorial, former students and fellow teachers of Falker offered touching personal memories and tributes, including Lorna D’Sa ’12, tech teacher and theater director, Jim D’Attilio, Amber Walsh ’13, Patrick Maloney ’12, Ashley (Quifiones) Stickney ’11, and Andrew Hazerjian ’14. Jim Holmes, WPS choral teacher, led the program as master of ceremonies.
Throughout the program, there was an outpouring of love for Falker, laughter at some of his antics, and admiration and gratefulness for his dedication to his students.
