Rossini Overture from An Italian in Algiers
Mozart Piano Concerto in D minor K 466
Beethoven Symphony no. 4
Conductor, Sandro Naglia
Ten For Trenton Honorees: Dame Dr. Mary Rorro & Cav. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari, Ed.D
“The music in my heart I bore long after it was heard no more.” This quote by William Wordsworth speaks to me. My mother and father nurtured my passion for music and my dream of becoming a doctor. They enabled me to be fulfilled in my complementary loves.
As a young girl, I played violin along with my Mom to Suzuki records and the look of joy in her eyes motivated me, as we shared this lovely musical partnership. I eventually joined the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Matteo Giammario, who also taught music at Trenton High School and conducted the Trenton Symphony on special occasions. Decades later, I reconnected with Maestro Matteo during the pandemic, and we embarked on composing 16 songs together, with Matteo writing arrangements to my melodies and lyrics. He just turned 100 years old and our intergenerational music collaboration is a delight to my Mom that music lessons also developed into an interest in songwriting. A full concert of our works, called “Songs That Heal and Comfort,” was presented at Saint Peter’s University.
I combine my career as a physician with harnessing the power of music, using it to engage with patients and offer music for community events. My mother continues to show that spark in her eye as she attends every performance, and I feel so fortunate to have a mother with such kindness, grace, and devotion.
We have shared countless memorable experiences through music, and I am blessed to have my mother play her part in the symphony of life.
In this full-circle moment, we return to the War Memorial stage, where my mother used to look on with pride as she attended my childhood recitals.
As the musicians begin to create beauty, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my mother for her unwavering commitment to me.
Her lifelong mission and mine are to contribute to the community. This award is a meaningful recognition for us to receive as mother and daughter. My Mom’s gift of music lessons became life lessons, which are always cherished.
We are honored by the Capitol Philharmonic for the Ten for Trenton Award, which celebrates our mutual love of music and the arts. Let the music always resound in your heart. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my Mom and the Capital Philharmonic!
Written by: Dame, Dr. Mary Rorro in tribute to her Mother Dame, Dr. Gilda Rorro
