Holladay: Singing to the green tune
St. Vincent DePaul students perform original opera and celebrate everything Irish
By Tabatha Deans, Close-Up Staff, Salt Lake Tribune (March 22, 2007)

The gymnasium at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic School in Holladay was recently turned into an opera house, where first- and eighth-grade students - dressed in kilts, Irish hats and vests - performed an original opera created by the first-graders.

Taylor Borg, along with other members of the St. Vincent Honor Band, play Irish music at the school's celebration. The band's performance preceded an original opera by first- and eighth-grade students. (Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune )

The assembly, which has been a tradition at the school for about five years, began with a performance by the St. Vincent Honor Band, which played Irish selections such as "Galway Piper" and "Shepherd's Hey." Students, faculty and volunteers spent nearly a month preparing for the celebration, including assembling a display table with traditional Irish items, such as handmade lace, sweaters and photos. Irish authors were honored by a display spotlighting their careers. They included Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Jonathan Swift.

Principal Mark Longe said the celebration was a combined effort by his teachers, volunteers and members from the Utah Opera, who helped students learn, write and compose songs for the assembly. "Mrs. Pence, one of our teachers, always says that when the students make something with their hands, it comes from their hearts. That is very true of this celebration," Longe said.

The annual performance is dedicated to the "Presentation Nuns of Ireland," who started St. Vincent DePaul School in 1964.
The opera tells a story of students returning to school after winter recess, and the green roof of the new pavilion reminded them of Ireland. The performers then went on to drill their teacher, Mr. O'Connor, about his homeland.

First-graders sang the opera, while eight-grade students helped illustrate with actions and signs. One of the songs performed taught students key facts about Ireland, which, according to the song, is "an island about the size of Maine, has nearly 4 million people and the capital city is Dublin."

Parents and community members joined the festivities, including Trudy Elsmore, a senior citizen, who attended the assembly to support her neighbor, teacher Jeanne Pence. "I love to come watch the kids dressed up and performing. Jeanne has dedicated her life to these kids, and I came out to support all of them," Elsmore said.

Party-goers were treated to Irish dances, a harp performance and plenty of green cookies and punch to wrap up the festivities.

tdeans@sltrib.com