Local Musicians Release Holiday CD

Jeanne Malota of Newtown and John J. Dulina, IV, the owner of The Renaissance Center in Southbury, have released their first collaborative compact disc. The disc, Holiday Silhouette, features Ms Malota’s lyrical soprano voice accompanied by Mr Dulina on piano. Copies are $10 each.

Although friends nearly twenty years ago, the duo was reunited recently at a performance where they were both contracted to perform.

“It was like no time had passed,” said Mr Dulina. “We both started the rehearsal and felt like we had worked every day for the past twenty years.”

“We are very serious about our music but at the same time we have fun doing what we do, and that really shows in the CD,” said Ms Malota.

The project came together with great ease, produced by MCMWLW Recording of Newtown, a Solutions: Marketing! Company.

Most of the compositions are new arrangements of loved holiday favorites including “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “I Wonder As I Wander” and “The Christmas Song” to name a few.

The duo also found some unique arrangements that they adapted to their own style and were able to fully orchestrate several selections with the help of modern technology. Mr Dulina was able to add various string parts in addition to brass or woodwind ensembles through the use of a MIDI keyboard, and Ms Malota was able to create harmonies and vocal effects using the same technology.

John Dulina began his musical studies during his formative years and has been employed as a professional performer, conductor, coach and lecturer for more than three-quarters of his life. He is a former music director for Sacred Heart Church in Southbury. Under his direction, the church’s Adult Choir was invited to sing in Rome for a public concert, a high Latin Liturgy, and an audience for the group with Pope John Paul II.

Jeanne Malota has been singing in public since she was 11 years old. Currently she is a cantor at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury and is also part of the adult choir. She has performed the national anthem for Special Olympics events and has been acclaimed for her lyrical, “pop-like” soprano style.

In addition to being the owner of the Newtown-based JMM Events, a meeting and event company, Ms Malota is currently a co-president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Newtown. She resides in Newtown with her husband Mike and their two children.

Holiday Silhouette is available at The Magic Garden in Newtown, and from Barbara Hostetler at Bob Tendler Real Estate in Newtown. In Southbury, the CD is being sold at The Renaissance Center, Pampered Paws and Southbury Country Florist. For more information regarding the duo or the CD contact JMM Events at 426-0162 or MCMWLW@earthlink.net.