Central Catholic Music Hall of Fame Inducts New Members
Click HERE for CCHS MHOF Inductees
On May 5, Central Catholic High School honored the new members of its Music Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony at the Valentine Theatre. Inductees were invited to attend Central Catholic’s 95th musical production, Freaky Friday, immediately following the event.
We congratulate these new members of the CCHS Music Hall of Fame, we celebrate their musical accomplishments, and we thank them for sharing their talents and for being positive role models for our current students!
Dario Insenga - Class of 1963
Dario began playing drums at the age of 10. As the nephew of Jerry DePrisco, who was chairman of the CCHS music department from 1955-75, Dario learned to be a jazz musician and was classically trained. At Central Catholic, he was in the band for four years and in the orchestra for three years.
Dario worked at the DePrisco Music Store and taught drums. Most of his career has been spent on the road as a musician, playing drums and other percussion in various rock, blues, jazz, and even polka bands. These days, Dario plays drums in a band called New Moon, and he works part time as a stagehand, setting up for shows at the Valentine Theatre, Huntington Center, Stranahan Theater, and several venues in Detroit.
Paul J. Raczkowski - Class of 1965
Paul is retired after working 42 years as an educator, serving as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, and principal - including serving as principal at Central Catholic. He and several alumni Band, Glee Club, and Orchestra members worked to establish the CCHS Music Hall of Fame.
Paul has played trumpet and bass on several polka band recordings and plays for weddings, parties, and anniversaries. He has performed in the pit orchestra for several Central Catholic productions, as well as performing in community productions.
Paul Stanbery (posthumous) - Class of 1972
Paul was an educator for more than 30 years, including work in several Toledo area schools. He was the band director at Central Catholic from 1975 to 1977. Before his retirement in 2019, he was acclaimed as both a conductor and composer.
Paul served as the Butler Philharmonic’s music director and as associate conductor of the Lima Symphony. During his career, he collaborated with many noted conductors and conducted in Carnegie Hall. As a composer, he had a symphony nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in music.
Paul believed strongly in the importance of reaching young people with classical music, and he composed original music for youth presentations and established scholarship opportunities for young musicians and singers.
Terence Brassell and Katherine Bishop-Brassell - Class of 1976
Kathy participated in freshman chorus and Glee Club at Central Catholic. In 1981, she joined an alumni Glee choir at the Historic Church of St. Patrick. In 1985, Terry became the choir’s organist and Kathy the music coordinator. They then served the parish for the next 33 years. The music legacy of their family continued with all four of their daughters participating in the CCHS music program: two in the band and two in the Glee Club.
As parents, Terry and Kathy were both members of the Band Boosters and Glee Club Parent Board. They both worked on Central Catholic musicals - Terry working on sets and Kathy as wardrobe mistress and costume designer. Kathy still continues on in this role today.
Joe Kraus - Class of 1980 and Marie (Vedra) Kraus - Class of 1981
As CCHS students, Joe and Marie were members of the band and they witnessed the impact parent volunteers had on the success of the program. Their parents were part of the band boosters who helped raise funds for equipment, uniforms, and music, and provided meals and transportation. Joe and Marie followed in their parents’ footsteps, becoming volunteers in the CCHS music department when their three daughters were students.
They continue to serve today, well after their children have graduated. They want to support an institution that provided so much to them and their children, with the hope that Central Catholic and its music programs thrive for many more generations.
Michael Puppos - Class of 2004
Michael credits his time at Central Catholic for creating a lifelong love of creating music and sharing it with others. During his years at Central Catholic, he was involved in National Honor Society and Spiritual Commission, he was the president of the Marching Band, playing piano, and he also participated in the concert and pep bands.
Michael has served as the organist at St. Francis DeSales Church, the director of music at Saint John XXIII, the EXCLAIM! Music Festival event director, and the Mass Music Coordinator at Central Catholic. He has been the owner of RiverFront Studios in Waterville since 2020, offering art classes and music lessons.
Halli Toland - Class of 2013
Halli has been dancing, singing, and performing since she was three years old. At Central Catholic, she was a member of the Glee Club, as well as a captain and choreographer of the Irish Dance Team. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theater.
Right after graduation, Halli joined the company of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Broadway, and then she performed in Carousel on Broadway. She was a member of the Broadway first national tour of Cats. She appeared in the Steven Spielberg film West Side Story in 2021, as well as the film Maestro directed by Bradley Cooper in 2023. She most recently finished her year-long run with the Broadway national tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Halli is also a member of Broadway Hearts, a not-for-profit organization in which she sings in children's hospitals throughout New York City and across the country via Zoom.
