This crowd makes me sing: Masterson's last month in office as King of Rock

He's held the attention of eight hundred restless peers who listen to him in silence during mass.

He's filled his summer with enrichment programs at MIT and Berklee College.

He's led bands, choirs, and audiences in singing along.

And next year, he's off to Harvard.

He's Dan Masterson. And with only a few measures left on his dramatic score as a CM Knight, Masterson is making his last days count. On Tuesday afternoon in the seminar room, Masterson gave an afternoon solo performance for faculty and students. "Manhattan, C.E., A Song Cycle for Piano and Voice" gave any last members of the CM community who have yet to hear him one last chance. One wonders if the next time they see him, they'll be paying Ticketmaster service charges in addition to the ticket price.

Above: watch Masterson's performance
of "Wake Up, Good Morning"

Masterson took a moment at the end of the concert to present some thoughts on his years as a knight. "The music department here has changed my future," he told an audience of over a hundred. "When I arrived here I had no comprehension of what was ahead and no awareness that I was arriving at the start of a time for exponential growth in CM's music program. I just did what I loved."

And what his peers loved, too. Masterson helped create the annual benefit concert which has raised thousands of dollars each year for various causes. He worked tirelessly on the annual talent show and jazz band concerts and has been in front of the mic for dozens of celebrations as Mr. Craig Spaner's leading voice in the CM choir.

"It takes something more than academic success to be admitted to one of the top universities in the U.S.," Masterson said. "While many CM students find their 'something else' in athletic programs, music was the 'something else' for me and will be the 'something else' for knights of the future."

CM faculty, staff, and administration enjoyed one of Masterson's last concerts as much as he did. "Dan has flourished in this program," his guidance counselor Mr. Tegan said.

"No person this young should have the emotional range that this young man does," Assistant Principal Dr. James Keane added.

Mr. Chisholm found yet another superlative. "He has unmatched talent that I have never seen in my 30 years of being at Catholic Memorial."

Masterson's parents Stephen and Jean Marie looked on proudly as did his siblings Chris ’10, Joseph, Victoria, and Alexandra. Referring to both of his sons, Dan and Chris, Stephen Masterson noted, “They’ve been so self driven [here]—it’s been the right combination of talented teachers, a good administration, and a varied group of kids.”

Dan, who comes from a background of three generations of singers, intends to study music at Harvard which, as his father noted, he chose himself. “We saw offers come in quickly,” Mr. Masterson said. “We sat back and let him absorb it and make the right decision.”