Concert to celebrate Eastern’s 50th anniversary

BRISTOL — Bristol Eastern High School has turned 50 and two local musicians with a longtime association with the school, Ken Ferris and Rich Theriault, are putting on a free concert Saturday afternoon to cap off the celebration.
“We’ve been celebrating our 50th with all different events over the course of the year and this concert will be the final event with vocal and instrumental classics,” said V. Everett Lyons, the principal of BEHS, who will be retiring after 25 years at the school.
The 50th Reunion Concert will feature many alumni and current students.
The program will include a slide show by a former student showing the school when he was there.

“I am excited to meet some of the alumni,” said Lyons.
There will be a full chorus and a full orchestra, all led by Ferris and Theriault.
Ferris put in more than 30 years with BEHS and is now the director of the Bristol Choral Society.
Theriault used to be the band director at BEHS and has a 20-year history with the school. He is a part of the Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble and the Bristol Reunion Jazz Band.
“They are both incredible guys, who would give you the shirts off their backs,” said Kim Hazelton, a teacher at Bristol Eastern High School.
Hazelton is a graduate of BEHS and was a student of Ken Ferris’.
“Everybody loved him. We all looked at him as an uncle,” said Hazelton. “He had such passion for music that made you have passion for it.”
Hazelton was a part of the concert choir, swing choir and Madrigal Singers, and this Saturday she will be performing in the reunion concert.
“I’m thrilled for the concert. We have alumni coming from as far as Florida. It’s really going to be a reunion weekend,” said Hazelton.
Ferris is concentrating on the chorus and Theriault is concentrating on the instrumental.
It was a huge task for them to put together the show but on Saturday it will become a shining moment in the history of the school and its music program.
“I’m excited. We have a great amount of pride in our music program and this is a great opportunity to bring back some of our alumni musicians,” said Lyons.
The concert will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bristol Eastern High School auditorium. There is no charge for this event.
“Come and listen to the history of the music program,” said Lyons.