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Holiday Spectacular 2025
December 7, 2025
Holiday Spectacular
Opera at Florham’s annual Holiday Spectacular, presented on December 7, 2025, was a heartwarming and festive celebration of the season. Set within the glowing acoustics of St. Margaret of Scotland Church, the concert seamlessly blended Operatic masterworks, beloved holiday classics, and contemporary favorites.
Baritone Matthew Ciuffitelli and mezzo soprano Grace Pfleger delivered stirring performances, from the grandeur of Handel’s Messiah to the tenderness of “O Holy Night” and the charm of lighter seasonal fare. Mezzo soprano and narrator Mariana Karpatova added warmth and elegance, while the Sidecar Trio infused the performance with playful energy and stylistic flair. Under the artistic direction of Mary Pinto, the afternoon captured the joy, beauty, and sense of community that make this concert a treasured holiday tradition.
Holiday Spectacular 2025
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GRACE RENEE PFLEGER
Mezzo Soprano
Grace Renée Pfleger, Mezzo Soprano, is an opera singer and music therapist. She is pursuing her Artist Diploma on full scholarship at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, studying with Beth Roberts and coaching with Mary Pinto. This semester, she had the honor of being selected to sing for acclaimed Mezzo Soprano Isabel Leonard in master class. Pfleger holds a Master of Science in Music Therapy from Radford University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, with a minor in German, from UNC School of
the Arts, where she was named the Presser Scholar.
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MATTHEW CIUFFITELLI
Baritone
Hailed by Classic FM for his viral “Figaro” parody as “truly an anthem of our times,” Baritone Matthew Ciuffitelli is recognized both as a distinguished operatic performer and dynamic content creator. He recently appeared with New York City Opera, originating the role of Giampi Malnate in the world premiere of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. On Broadway, he was featured in the 10th Anniversary Concert of A Tale of Two Cities. Beyond the Opera stage, Matthew has performed with the Rolling Stones at Chicago’s United Center and opened for Barry Manilow. His Operatic credits include leading roles in Don Pasquale, L’Elisir d’Amore, Die Zauberflöte, Die Fledermaus, Faust, La Bohème, and The Barber of Seville.
THE SIDECAR TRIO
Oscar Suh-Rodriguez, guitar, Dane Alexander, saxophone, and Jeff Little, bass
The Sidecar Trio is a Northern New Jersey-based interplay trio composed of guitarist Oscar Suh-Rodriguez, saxophonist Dane Alexander, and bassist Jeff Little. After over ten years performing together, their repertoire spans dozens of genres and hundreds of songs. From shades of Debussy to the “hot jazz” of Django Reinhardt, Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti westerns to 1970s Japanese city pop, all types of audiences have been able to enjoy their eclectic programming.
MARY PINTO
Artistic Director & Piano Accompanist
Mary Pinto, Artistic Director, has worked with international Opera singers and major American Opera companies for over 25 years. Ms. Pinto's career began as a rehearsal pianist for noted Opera companies: Dallas Opera, Chicago's Lyric Opera, Omaha Opera, and others.
For many summers, including 2025, Ms. Pinto joins the team at Masterclass d’Ischia, an intensive Operatic program held in Italy, to coach Opera and prepare young singers for their upcoming Operatic season. In New York, she gave master classes and provided coaching at the Queens Summer Vocal Institute.
In 2022, Ms. Pinto was invited to be the official accompanist for the Giulio Gari Competition and to accompany singers at the Gerda Lissner Song, Zarzuela and Aria Competition followed by her Carnegie Hall debut playing in the Gerda Lissner Winners Concert.