Senior Jack Ceglie is a standout in the music department. Making significant strides in the performing arts, he has showcased his exceptional talent and dedication over the last four years. From his concert choir involvement to taking center stage in musical theater productions, Ceglie’s musical journey has left a mark on LHS.
Ceglie has been a dedicated member of the choral program, and specifically concert choir, honing his vocal skills and deepening his passion for performance. “Being a musician really helped me find my path in life. I don’t believe I would have found what I wanted to do, let alone be as certain as I am about it now,” Ceglie explained. His hard work paid off when Ceglie was nominated by the Roger Rees Foundation as “Outstanding Performer,” along with students at over 74 different high schools in the New York City and Long Island region. There, he was able to perform with fellow musicians who shared the same enthusiasm for music and theatre, making it an unforgettable experience. Ceglie’s exceptional performance made him one of 12 finalists, establishing him as one of the most outstanding student performers in musical theater across New York.
Ceglie’s Drama Club prowess cannot be missed. He has played a lead role in the past four musicals produced at LHS: Marius in Les Misérables (grade 9), Billy Crocker in Anything Goes! (grade 10), and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (grade 11). For his senior year, Ceglie portrayed Danny Zuko in Grease, captivating the audience with his vocal and emotional range once again. Junior Alexa Rutigliano, who played the female lead role of Sandy Dumbrowski alongside Ceglie in Grease, expressed, “Jack is an exceptional performer. Being able to play Sandy with Jack was truly an experience.” Chorus teacher Barry Wyner added, “I think as he’s found himself as a person in the past three and a half years, his performances have become more grounded and self-assured. His arsenal has expanded, and now he can hit the audience with flashy high notes, but also understated raw emotion, and many other tone colors, too.”
Beyond his achievement in musical theater, Ceglie has been accepted into the All-State Mixed Choir in both his junior and senior year. As a musician’s acceptance to All-State is purely based on a raw New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) audition score, being chosen is an indication of the tremendous effort that was put into the performance. This process is very rigorous, with only top-performing students earning a spot in ensembles. In his junior year, Ceglie endured a seven-hour bus ride to Rochester, NY. After three full days of rehearsal, he performed at the renowned Eastman Theatre, singing not only in English, but also in French and German. This senior year, Ceglie proved his tonal talent once again, leaving a lasting impression on his peers and teachers.
Recognizing the support and talent that have shaped his journey, Ceglie expressed a deep gratitude to his fellow students: “The students were always so welcoming, and it was a really nice breath of fresh air to be surrounded by like-minded people, and I think the teachers speak for themselves.”
When asked about his future plans, Ceglie shared, “I plan on continuing to work as an artist post high school. I was lucky [enough] to get into the one and only college I applied to: The Norwalk Conservatory of Arts.” There, Ceglie hopes to make arrangements with an agent to begin an exciting theatrical career.
Ceglie’s talented and warm presence at LHS has tremendously grown over time and will continue to do so in the future. With a future full of potential, he is set to continue making waves in the world of music and theater. Wyner reflected, “I’m honestly so proud of the fine young man he has blossomed into. Talent aside, being a good human being is the most important thing, and Jack sets a great example at both.”
