GUILFORD — On behalf of the trustees of Friends of Music at Guilford, I extend sincere thanks to everyone who attended and supported our two annual events that allow us to support three other local nonprofit organizations.
Set at Centre Congregational Church since 1980, the Messiah Sing was rededicated in 2007 as a benefit for the homeless at holiday time. Since then, we have raised close to $13,200 in door donations divided equally between the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center and Morningside Shelter.
This year's total for the two agencies was about $1,650. An annual collection at the Sing by Drop In Center volunteers supplemented our cash contribution with groceries, winter outerwear, and toys.
We are deeply grateful for performer, attendee, and sponsor generosity in making the Messiah Sing once again a great community event. The soloists and conductor have traditionally donated their services to the cause, and we thank all of them. We received service trades, discounts, or cash donations from our major Messiah Sing sponsors.
On the following weekend, we hosted two performances of our annual Christmas at Christ Church celebration in that historic Guilford structure on Route 5.
“All My Heart Rejoices!” featured the Guilford Chamber Singers performing a variety of richly melodic a cappella arrangements of familiar holiday texts in unfamiliar settings by composers from the past five centuries. A trio of Guilford Chamber Players performed delightful instrumental interludes.
Don McLean's dramatic reading for the occasion was a reprise of his popular rendition of “A Child's Christmas in Wales,” saluting the author Dylan Thomas's centennial year. Each Christ Church holiday gathering ended, as usual, with a few carols sung by everyone.
These annual Christmas concerts are also offered free, with door donations shared equally by Friends of Music at Guilford and the Christ Church Society for preservation and maintenance of the building, with $472 heading to the church.
Our heartfelt thanks go to performers and audience alike for making this year's program a wonderful celebration of the season.
Finally, we wish everyone in the tri-state community a 2015 blessed with peace, prosperity, and wonderful music.