MONTVALE—A beloved Fieldstone Middle School music and choir teacher—many of whose students have gone on to professional careers in music, education, on Broadway, in Hollywood and in the film and music recording industry—got the surprise of his career at his final performance on May 22.
During the last song of the spring chorus concert, the back curtain opened and Fieldstone alumni joined current singers on stage. Past students held up sheet music with their graduation years written on the back creating the timeline of James “Mr. Q” Quaranto’s career and commitment to FMS. He’s retiring after 43 years.
Elizabeth Gloeggler and Stephanie Buckley, Montvale residents and FMS graduates of 1988 and 1992, respectively, spearheaded the surprise. Inspired by Mr. Q’s lasting impact, they organized the event, reaching out to fellow alumni through a Google form and a Facebook group, “Fans of Mr. Q,” which quickly gained 105 members.
The preparation was meticulous. Alumni who couldn’t attend sent messages via the Google form, while the Facebook group became a hub for sharing memories and coordinating the event. To ensure everyone could join the performance, Gloeggler and Buckley shared the lyrics to the concert’s final song, “One Voice” by Barry Manilow, which Mr. Q chose to close his final concert, as it was the last song in his first concert as a teacher in 1981.
Before the current chorus began their rendition, Mr. Q shared the story of his initial performance, which didn’t go as planned when the stage lights, which were supposed to come up gradually, with each new voice added, were brought up all at once, ruining the effect.
This time, the students started the song with their backs to the audience. One by one, they turned and joined in, culminating in a powerful performance that included students, alumni, and families all touched by Mr. Q’s dedication.
In addition to the surprise performance, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Darren Peterson thanked Mr. Q for his dedication to the school. He received gifts from staff and the eighth-grade class who then went around and said a few words about their teacher. Words such as dedicated, committed and supportive were common from students.
An eighth-grader noted, “A piece of you will always be at this school.”
Mayor Michael Ghassali presented a proclamation “for Mr. Quaranto’s commitment to excellence, his dedication and professionalism” and thanked Mr. Q for his service to the school.
The proclamation reads, “Throughout his service, he has embraced and shared his love for music, and impacted the lives of many. Many of his students had the honor of also having Mr. Q teaching their own children as they grew and became parents themselves.”
Ghassali said the proclamation will be placed in the town archives to permanently honor the dedicated teacher.
In an interview with Pascack Press, Stephanie Buckley revealed she was shocked to hear the news of Mr. Q’s retirement. “I never thought this day would come. I always thought he was going to be teaching here.”
That’s because Mr. Q spent his career teaching at FMS. He came to the middle school as a first-year teacher in 1981 and spent the rest of his career teaching music to generations of Montvale students.
This includes the families of Elizabeth Gloeggler and Stephanie Buckley. Their older children Ettie Eggers and Caitlin Buckley both had Mr. Q and are sophomores at Pascack Hills High School. Their younger children Evie Eggers and Bridget Buckley are eighth-graders at FMS and current students of Mr. Q.
The Baskin family also shared their experiences. Owen Baskin, a current student, performed a solo during the spring concert. Mr. Q mentioned that he also taught Owen’s father, Todd Baskin. Rachel Baskin, Owen’s mother and a member of the Montvale Board of Education, praised Mr. Q’s passionate dedication to his students.
In an email to Pascack Press, Rachel Baskin explained that all four children attended FMS and were in Mr. Q’s classes and chorus. Owen’s older siblings, Andrew, Hannah, and Joshua, graduated from FMS in 2018, 2019, and 2021 respectively.
Rachel Baskin told us, “Montvale is incredibly blessed to have had such a passionate educator share his talents and love of music and confidence in performance—all of Mr. Q’s students would shine, in the classroom and on the stage.”
Mr. Q’s commitment to students went beyond the classroom. He frequently volunteers as a chaperone on the eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C. He also attends the band and chorus trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. His dedication to the school and young members of the community is an inspiration for educators and residents alike.
Editor’s note: Staff writer Megan Klepper and her two sisters are graduates of Fieldstone Middle School, and all had James “Mr. Q” Quaranto as a music teacher.