Mr. Paul Bozzi runs the booth for School Meetings in Colony Hall.
Can you imagine School Meetings where a microphone-less speaker has to shout into the audience? Thanks to the work of Mr. Paul Bozzi, a sound technician and Assistant Technical Director in the Arts Department, the School is able to put together productions and events with elaborate sound technology.
Mr. Bozzi came to Choate in 2013 after 10 years of working at the Yale Repertory Theater, where he served as the Head Audio Engineer. He built large, sophisticated, “Broadway-level” theatrical sound systems while guiding a group of nine students throughout the process. A friend recommended Choate to Mr. Bozzi, landing him his current position.
School events and theater productions make up the majority of Mr. Bozzi’s work. For any gathering in Colony Hall or the Paul Mellon Arts Center (PMAC), such as School Meetings and Community Conversations, Mr. Bozzi handles the media, microphones, slideshows, and videos.
The second part of Mr. Bozzi’s job is doing sound design for theater, which entails choosing microphone types and controlling sound effects. He also assists in set and lighting construction.
Mr. Bozzi trains four to five students every year in sound, instructing them how to operate the board and perform proper microphone placement. “He teaches students how to do that work, and really empowers those few students,” said Theater Director Mrs. Kate Doak.
Mr. Bozzi hopes to give the technical theater students a more holistic experience in theater, saying, “We want to make it a real established thing that the sound kids are part of the entire rehearsal process from day one, so they are almost like a cast member.”
Mr. Bozzi’s career as a sound technician began with playingdrums at only 12 years old, and he still practices every night on campus. “I heard Jimi Hendrix on the radio when I was 14 and decided it was the best thing in the world,” said Mr. Bozzi.
He is the founder, leader, and drummer of Moto, a group of five to six players that performs mostly Caribbean music, including reggae and soca. Moto performs 12 times during summer concerts by the water in Connecticut. As a member of a small rock band, Mr. Bozzi said that “somebody has to learn to do the audio,” which paved the way for his profession.
Reflecting on Mr. Bozzi’s many contributions to the Choate community, Mrs. Doak said, “He brings a really healthy love of music and performance and sound to his role at the school and to the program for all of us.”
Qin Caldwell ’24, who works with Mr. Bozzi in the booth during School Meetings and events, described him as “just a really nice guy.” For Caldwell, working with Mr. Bozzi is “always fun and lighthearted. [Mr. Bozzi] often will whistle a tune while walking and is generally cheerful.”
After 10 years of hard work at Choate, Mr. Bozzi plans to retire at the end of this year but will continue playing with Moto and doing freelance audio work. He will also continue engaging in his other interests, which include swimming, going to the beach, and riding mountain bikes at night. At home, he grows vegetables. “I like to eat what I grow … mostly tomatoes and basil and swiss chard and cucumbers and oregano and stuff like that,” said Mr. Bozzi. He also takes care of his two young granddaughters, whom he described as “amazing kids.”
Mr. Bozzi has enjoyed working in the realm of academia. He shared his thoughts on his time at Choate, saying, “A lot of people you meet in this world [academia] are mostly really educated, nice people. I really appreciate working at Choate and Yale…these two places have been really special, so it’s a good way to go out.”
