Post by admin on Nov 12, 2008 8:32:00 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/1112/front_page/025.html
Bell choir will perform at Presbyterian church
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
For the fourth year in a row, the First Presbyterian Church, 118 West Main Street, Freehold Borough, will be the site of an uplifting Christmas concert.
The 2008 holiday concert that is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 is part of an ongoing series that was created to help defray operating expenses for the stately 165-yearold brownstone church that sits on the corner of West Main Street and Brinkerhoff Avenue.
Members of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir will uplift hearts and spirits with a program of holiday music featuring American and European Christmas carols, according to Robert DiSogra, chairman of the music committee at the First Presbyterian Church.
DiSogra said he is "very excited the church can feature another international group as part of our annual Christmas concert series."
"So far we have had the Grammy award winning group Chanticleer, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the 100 Voices of the New York Choral Society," he said.
A sold out performance is expected on Dec. 5.
The Westminster Concert Bell Choir is celebrating its 30th year of the hand bell curriculum at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, according to DiSogra. He said Westminster Choir College is the first institution in the world to develop such a program.
"Featuring 100 hand bells spanning eight octaves, the 14-member bell choir will not only be showcasing their Christmas music, but also their ability to coordinate the variety of different bell sizes that make up the musical program," DiSogra said.
"Hailed throughout the nation for its virtuosity, this dynamic ensemble performs with the world's largest range of hand bells weighing from four ounces to over 10 pounds," he added.
DiSogra said the Westminster Concert Bell Choir has performed with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the critically acclaimed 15-city tour "A Royal Christmas." The bell choir has appeared on NBC-TV's "Today" show and on public television. The bell choir has recorded multiple compact discs.
DiSogra said the concert series is helping with the significant expense of renovations for the church that were initiated four years ago. The three previous holiday concerts have all been sell-out performances.
"When the Vienna Boys Choir performed, the concert was sold out one month before the show," he said. "We had 70 people on a waiting list and many people came to the church that night just to see if there were any cancellations or room for them at the concert. It was very warm that night. We opened the windows and found many people were listening on the street outside the church."
DiSogra said this year's corporate sponsor, GN ReSound, a manufacturer of digital hearing aids, has made a donation that will keep ticket prices affordable and allow the church to keep most of the proceeds from the show.
He suggested that tickets to the Dec. 5 concert at the church would make a great Christmas gift.
"With the economy the way it is, how can you find a better Christmas present for $20 than this gift of music?" he said.
Reserve seating tickets for the Westminster Concert Bell Choir are $20. For more information call 732-363-6429
Bell choir will perform at Presbyterian church
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
For the fourth year in a row, the First Presbyterian Church, 118 West Main Street, Freehold Borough, will be the site of an uplifting Christmas concert.
The 2008 holiday concert that is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 is part of an ongoing series that was created to help defray operating expenses for the stately 165-yearold brownstone church that sits on the corner of West Main Street and Brinkerhoff Avenue.
Members of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir will uplift hearts and spirits with a program of holiday music featuring American and European Christmas carols, according to Robert DiSogra, chairman of the music committee at the First Presbyterian Church.
DiSogra said he is "very excited the church can feature another international group as part of our annual Christmas concert series."
"So far we have had the Grammy award winning group Chanticleer, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the 100 Voices of the New York Choral Society," he said.
A sold out performance is expected on Dec. 5.
The Westminster Concert Bell Choir is celebrating its 30th year of the hand bell curriculum at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, according to DiSogra. He said Westminster Choir College is the first institution in the world to develop such a program.
"Featuring 100 hand bells spanning eight octaves, the 14-member bell choir will not only be showcasing their Christmas music, but also their ability to coordinate the variety of different bell sizes that make up the musical program," DiSogra said.
"Hailed throughout the nation for its virtuosity, this dynamic ensemble performs with the world's largest range of hand bells weighing from four ounces to over 10 pounds," he added.
DiSogra said the Westminster Concert Bell Choir has performed with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the critically acclaimed 15-city tour "A Royal Christmas." The bell choir has appeared on NBC-TV's "Today" show and on public television. The bell choir has recorded multiple compact discs.
DiSogra said the concert series is helping with the significant expense of renovations for the church that were initiated four years ago. The three previous holiday concerts have all been sell-out performances.
"When the Vienna Boys Choir performed, the concert was sold out one month before the show," he said. "We had 70 people on a waiting list and many people came to the church that night just to see if there were any cancellations or room for them at the concert. It was very warm that night. We opened the windows and found many people were listening on the street outside the church."
DiSogra said this year's corporate sponsor, GN ReSound, a manufacturer of digital hearing aids, has made a donation that will keep ticket prices affordable and allow the church to keep most of the proceeds from the show.
He suggested that tickets to the Dec. 5 concert at the church would make a great Christmas gift.
"With the economy the way it is, how can you find a better Christmas present for $20 than this gift of music?" he said.
Reserve seating tickets for the Westminster Concert Bell Choir are $20. For more information call 732-363-6429
