国产传媒

Vincent Pirillo 鈥�71 has seen a floating chandelier in 鈥淧hantom of the Opera鈥� in a way audiences never will. He never needed the cast of 鈥淐ats鈥� to comb the seats for him to get a close-up view.

Pirillo has been a part of these casts and more, enjoying a career which has taken him from Los Angeles to Vienna and beyond. It was his voice that brought him to the Mount.

鈥淧aul Salamunovich came one day to our high school and did musical wonders with our glee club,鈥� he says of the late Grammy-nominated conductor and an esteemed choral director at the Mount. 鈥淎fter finishing high school, I had the privilege of joining his church choir at St. Charles. After a few rehearsals he said, 鈥業鈥檓 going to audition you for a scholarship. Sing 鈥楬oly God, We Praise Thy Name.鈥� I did and he said, 鈥楪reat, you鈥檝e got a scholarship.鈥� And that鈥檚 how I came to Mount Saint Mary鈥檚.鈥�

There, as a music major, Vince was a member of the Mount Singers. Salamunovich inspired the group to be in the moment in the music, often using wonderfully creative images. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still the foundation of everything I believe about performing,鈥� he says. He remembers the concerts, recitals and chamber opera productions fondly. 鈥淢ount Saint Mary鈥檚 gave me so much,鈥� he says. 鈥淓verybody was creative, supportive and kind. I鈥檓 thankful every day.鈥�

His career saw him involved in opera, plays and in many of the great theatrical productions: the aforementioned musicals as well as "Evita" and playing Daddy Warbucks in "Annie." And he has continually entertained audiences since, his home base now near London. Before the pandemic, Vince played a featured role in 鈥淐aroline, or Change鈥� on London鈥檚 West End, Sharon D. Clarke having now taken her famed role to Broadway. And you may have even seen him in 鈥淢en in Black: International.鈥� 鈥淭here鈥檚 always a scene with a security guard reading a newspaper in every one of the 鈥淢en in Black鈥� movies,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淚t was my turn!鈥�

Parillo recently joined the Golden Graduates Society and spoke with people he hadn鈥檛 interacted with in a long time. He received his purple scarf and other gifts in celebration of the 50 year-anniversary of his commencement. 鈥淭he Mount is a special, caring place. I'll always have a connection there.鈥�

As Vince looks back on all his roles, including Daddy Warbucks in 鈥淎nnie,鈥� he says it truly comes down to that feeling of connection for him. 鈥淭heater helps people, both performer and audience, to better understand themselves and the world,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here is this exchange of energy between the performers and the orchestra and the audience that you can鈥檛 put your finger on. But it鈥檚 palpable 鈥� and it鈥檚 thrilling!鈥�