Superintendent’s Artist of the Week: Kyle Gutierrez
Warwick Valley High School senior Kyle Gutierrez is a man with many titles. He’s president of the Jazz Choir, vice-president of the Meistersingers and in the fall, he was Homecoming King. WVHS music teacher Noreen Hanson added one additional title: Mayor of the Music Department.
“Kyle lights up any room he walks into and has the ability to be friends with every person in the room,” Ms. Hanson said. “He knows how to integrate himself within every group in the choir, which is a very difficult task. He is the sunshine in the Meistersingers and the heart of the Jazz Choir.”
Kyle was selected to the Area All-State Mixed Choir. He is looking forward to spring concerts, including a trip to Hershey Park with the Meistersingers. Currently, however, he is focusing on the Drama Club’s spring musical. Kyle plays the lead, Seymour, in “The Little Shop of Horrors”, which has performances on Friday and Saturday. He said this final week is intense.
“What we’re coming up to now, Hell Week, is like the best thing and the worst thing ever because you’re spending this grueling amount of time,” Kyle said. “But it’s also a lot of time spent bonding and having a good time. When it all comes together, it’s just really fun. The final week is like a haze. It kind of takes over everything. I’ll be going to school from 7:40 to 2:30, but I’m not going to remember that. I’m just going to remember the 2:30 forward.”
Kyle’s grandparents on his father’s side were both hard-working entertainers in Cuba, so you could say that performing is in his blood. Kyle feels comfortable on stage and enjoys acting even more than singing.
“I’ve always been really friendly and knew a lot of people, so I was comfortable and I wasn’t afraid to push for it and go full throttle,” Kyle said. “It’s a lot more liberating to just do things than it is to hold back, so on stage I can do a lot of cool stuff. I definitely don’t have stage fright. Sometimes I get nervous but I just turn those nerves into energy.”
WVHS English teacher and “Little Shop of Horrors” producer Nick DiLeo described Kyle as a talented young man who is a pleasure to work with and who totally brings his personality to the stage in every role he takes on.
Kyle also excels in the classroom. He earned Magna Cum Laude honors for the first two marking periods. Next year he plans to attend college in New York City and major in the social sciences or humanities. He’ll also be looking to pursue opportunities in the theater. Outside of school, he plays travel soccer and works at Pennings Farm and Orchard.
Little Shop of Horrors has performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets for all three performances are still available. The box office will open one hour before each scheduled curtain time to sell tickets. Tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for senior citizens and children under ten.
Warwick Valley High School senior Kyle Gutierrez on the stage on March 11, 2022.