2012 Citizen of the Year Award
BOROUGH OF SOMERVILLE
2012 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
IT IS WITH GRATEFUL APPRECIATION THAT AS MAYOR, I PRESENT THE 2012 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD TO:
STEPHEN LORETI
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE TO THE CHILDREN AND RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH OF SOMERVILLE.
Stephen has provided his time and talents over the past two decades touching the lives of hundreds of students channeling their talents and motivating the youth through music. He has made being in the band in Somerville very cool.
He is most often found in the middle school music room from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., working tirelessly not only teaching music but teaching personal responsibility, humbleness, honesty and the etiquette of musical performance. Stephen finds the musical talent in each child and teaches with the child in mind first, then adapts his teaching style to them.
Stephen has devoted his life to music, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at Trenton State and Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance at Montclair State before sharing his talents for the next 21 years in Somerville Borough as the Somerville Middle School Band Director and the Somerville High School Assistant Marching Band Director.
Under the direction of Stephen Loreti, the Middle School Christmas Concerts have become a standard for the holiday season in Somerville and his “Jazz in the Ville” program has a sound that rivals professional musicians. Stephen has allowed and encouraged volunteerism of his students during his tenure with the band and now the band is a staple of every event in Somerville Borough, which includes the Somerville Summer Concert Series, Memorial Day Ceremony, Christmas Jubilee Event, Inspection Day Parade, Holiday Ensembles at Bridgewater Mall and playing at Somerville Senior Citizen Events.
Stephen Loreti and his students over the past 21 years have compiled a list of accomplishments that have included best overall awards for the Jazz and Symphonic Bands in the “Music in the Parks” festival hosted by Six Flags Great Adventure and being recognized as the Best Overall Jazz Band since 1992. He is a recipient of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award in Somerset County and recently received the Excellence in Arts Award presented by the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
Stephen Loreti lives and breathes the future of Somerville Borough through his talents in teaching our children the value of hard work in every aspect of their lives.
IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO STEPHEN LORETI THIS MOST DISTINGUISHED AND WORTHY AWARD.
BRIAN GALLAGHER, MAYOR
January 1, 2013