Three new gyms all in use, all on 89th Street. School spirit has soared as more community members and younger boys can
now readily attend games in the Price Family Gymnasium (see page 42).
Board Chair Daniel Connolly ’77; the project’s architect, Sam White ’60 (PBDW Architects); and Student Council Officers
Peter Karasyov, William Rao, and Taylor Kruse cut the ribbon and officially opened the new campus, to thunderous applause
and three “Saint David’s Cheers.”
When Mr. Connolly spoke, he noted what a wonderful moment this was for him, not only as President of the Board of
Trustees but also as a former Saint David’s boy, whose two brothers and two children are also alumni. “This was done for you
so that the facility is up to the task of helping you become the good men that we know you are going to become,” he said to
all of the boys gathered. “It will be one of the great honors you take with you throughout your life, that you are and always
will be a Saint David’s Boy.”
To end the ceremony, Mr. Connolly singled out Dr. O’Halloran for his leadership, his vision, and his commitment, for
“giving all of himself so that this could happen.”
November 12, 2018, Evening: Curtain Call
The evening marked the inaugural production in the school’s new Otto-Bernstein Performing Arts Theatre:
Our Boys and Broadway, A Musical Celebration of All That We Can Be. Saint David’s Music Director Jeffrey
Moore welcomed all to the show, which was organized and produced by current parents Tom and Rita Kitt.
The theatre sparkled as Broadway performers joined the boys for a magical concert that featured the Saint David’s Philharmonic
Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble; powerful performances by Broadway Stars Mandy Gonzalez, Javier Muñoz, Julia Murney,
and Tom Kitt; and Saint David’s boys joining Mr. Kitt at the piano to sing All Good Men, the song he composed for Saint
David’s. During his Expression of Appreciation, Headmaster O’Halloran pointed out how beautifully the strings instrument
acoustics are in the new theatre. He cited the importance of the arts as a pillar of the school program, and how wonderful it is
that Saint David’s boys now have a state-of-the-art space where they can step outside of their comfort zones, explore emotions,
and new dimensions of their personas through performance.
Following the concert, nearly 700 members of the Saint David’s community gathered for a reception in the new lobby and
Lapeyre Family Performing Arts Commons, where the conversation over food and drink inevitably flowed to the “amazing”
little school that wasn’t so little anymore, the myriad possibilities for enhanced teaching and learning contained within, and
how extraordinarily bright the future is for Saint David’s boys.
From its inception, this project’s calling has been to realize Saint David’s mission by fundamentally transforming and
enriching the educational experience for the boys and faculty. As Dr. O’Halloran said during the construction period, “We
are using everything that we own to serve our mission; to enable the boys, teachers, and program to be all that they can be as
far into the future as we can see.”
Historically, lack of space somewhat limited what the boys could do in their pursuits as scholars, artists, athletes, and good
men. Happily... not any more!
The evening concert in the Otto-Bernstein Performing Arts Theatre featured Saint David’s boys and Broadway performers.
Winter 2019 • 9