Celebrate longtime Wayland teacher Richard Conti’s 91st birthday at a free concert in his honor on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. The program at First Parish will bring together three generations of musicians, including two of Mr. Conti’s former students, for an afternoon of music, memories, and singing. Cake will be served.
Richard Conti retired as chair of the Fine Arts Department at Wayland High School in 1997. For 37 years, he made music for the Wayland schools and inspired student after student to join with him.
Performing with Mr. Conti will be Maddie Sifantus (WHS class of 1967) and Bradford Akerman (WHS class of 1986). Sifantus is a professional singer, Unitarian Universalist minister, and founder of the Golden Tones elder chorus, which she directed for 20 years. During that time she reconnected with Conti, her former teacher, through multi-generational music programs with the Wayland schools. The two eventually formed the duo Song and Dance, combining her voice with his accordion.
Bradford Akerman reconnected with Richard Conti in recent years, and now they perform together as The Accidental Gentlemen, bringing the American songbook to senior audiences throughout New England and in Florida. The programs are interactive, featuring sing-alongs, stories, and dance.
First Parish is located at the intersection of Routes 20 and 27. Parking is available in the church lot, or at the Wayland Town Building. The building is fully accessible.
Join us to celebrate Richard Conti, the music he has shared, and the generations of students whose lives he has touched.