Final Two Weeks Holiday Arts Events

It is nearly impossible to be unaware of the overwhelming number of holiday themed events; concerts, art shows, craft shows, plays, (Star Wars premiere), happening between now and the New Year. For the sake of time (yours and mine), I am going to focus on just a few, very local, happenings.

Sumneytown’s St. John’s Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Christmas Bazaar, featuring local crafts people and homemade food, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. today, Saturday, December 12, 2015.

This weekend, the Valley Choral Society presents An American Christmas; arrangements of American carols and original music by American composers, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 81 Main Street, Pennsburg, PA tonight, December 12, 2015 – 7:30 p.m.,and at Trinity Lutheran Church, 19 S. 5th Street, Perkasie, PA on Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 4:00 p.m.

Red Hill musician Terry Kane is one half of The Jameson Sisters who will be playing holiday favorites on harp and mandolin tonight, Saturday, December 12th from 6:30 pm. – 9 p.m., at Fonthill Castle, East Court St and Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA, as part of the annual Holiday Lights Meander;

Meander at your own pace through Henry Mercer’s unique castle-like home to enjoy the seasonal decorations – candles, Christmas trees, and  greens throughout.  Live music and light refreshments complete your festive evening.  Reservation and pre-payment are required, call 215-348-9461.

This is the final weekend to see DCP‘s family theater production The Christmas Gazebo;

Christmas is just around the corner, but you’d never know it the way Delia is acting.  She wants to get rid of the park’s old gazebo, the eyesore which is right across the street from her café.  When Eudora silently puts a poinsettia on its steps, Delia learns that this “eyesore” holds a lot of lovely memories for people.  Doing a one-eighty, Delia fervently works to reverse the demolition plans and get people to help her fix it up instead.  Easier said than done.  The whole town seems to have an excuse for not helping.  Luckily, Sandy, a carpenter, lends some advice.  “Just be honest with them.  All people really need is a chance, you know.”  Sure enough, after Sandy pitches in, oddly wonderful things begin happening. 

DCP, 795 Ridge Road, Telford, PA 215-234-0966. Performances Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm and 4 pm December 4-13. Tickets are available for $10 at the door or online.

In the tradition of King’s College, Cambridge, the Adult Choir and the Handbell Choir at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 2871 Barndt Road, Harleysville, PA, will present A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, including choral music by Hillocks, Todd, Rutter and Howells, on Sunday, December 13, 2015, beginning at 7 p.m. A free will offering will be taken, and there is a reception (with home made sweets) following the concert.

The Upper Perkiomen Middle School Choir/Band/Orchestra Concert is this Tuesday, December 15th, in the auditorium at the Upper Perkiomen High School, 2 Walt Road, Pennsburg, PA.

The annual UPHS Choir Concert, which always features both sacred and secular seasonal music, will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 20th,  beginning at 3 p.m. in the auditorium at the Upper Perkiomen High School, 2 Walt Road, Pennsburg, PA.

Christmas Cantata Premiere

post by guest blogger Susan Royer

‘Tis the season when church choirs across the land marshall their resources, creativity, and inspiration to prepare and present a Christmas Cantata for a worship service sometime in December. These expanded choral works usually require a great deal of rehearsal time, but result in an enriching experience for both the musicians and the worshippers.

One such presentation is coming up this Sunday at Shenkel UCC in Pottstown PA, but with a twist. After the sudden death of a beloved choir member last fall, his wife Barbara decided to do something special with the memorial contributions that were given on his behalf. And thus an original cantata was commissioned in memory of Robert Brown. Fortuitously, the Director of Music is Kaitlyn Waterson, and her husband is a rising star as a composer. Starting with familiar carols, but with completely new and stunning arrangements, David Matthew Brown created a musical experience that is sure to create an inspired worship experience for all.

The premiere presentation of Thy Perfect Light will be offered during the 9:30 worship experience on Sunday December 13, 2015 and will feature the Chancel Choir, including several soloists, as well as composer David Brown on violin, Susan Royer on piano, and Pastor Bonnie Moore reading the narration authored by Kaitlyn Waterson

The choir is honored to share this original composition for the first time ever, and in memory of their dear friend Bob Brown.

(Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Rd, Pottstown, PA)

MMUP Musicians beyond June 21st

Nearly 200 musicians played as part of Make Music Upper Perk (MMUP) on June 21st, 2015. Many of them can be heard performing at other times of the year, near and far – and some have cd’s and mp3’s that you can purchase to enjoy their music in the comfort of your own home.

Heal the Night will be performing at 6 p.m. tonight, Friday, December 4, 2015,  as part of the Ugly Sweater Christmas Show at the Upper Perk Community Life Center, 104 Main Street, East Greenville. The band’s music can be found and purchased at iTunes.

This Saturday, December 5, 2015, Jessi Lee Ross will be playing her guitar and singing her trademark acoustic folk/experimental music at the 8th annual Indiemade Craft Market, in Allentown at the Starlite Ballroom, 1221 S. Front Street. The craft show takes place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., features 50 vendors and artists, an opportunity to try crafting yourself, and several musicians including Gesture Without Motion, The Emmaus Public Singing Society, and (as mentioned earlier) Jessi Ross. Jessi also has released several cd’s and digital albums, and is an accomplished abstract painter, whose works have been displayed at several galleries and at Java Good Day Cafe.

You can hear  The Valley Choral Society  at Christmas in the Valley – Saturday, December 5, 2015; 7 p.m. at the Upper Perkiomen High School, 2 Walt Road, Pennsburg. They will be one of several groups performing that night. There is no cost for admission, but food and monetary donations will be collected to support The Open Link. The following weekend, the Valley Choral Society presents their winter concert, An American Christmas; arrangements of American carols and original music by American composers, Saturday, December 12, 2015 – 7:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 81 Main Street, Pennsburg, PA and Sunday, December 13, 2015 – 4:00 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 19 S. 5th Street, Perkasie, PA. Advance tickets may be ordered in advance (online or call 484-923-8301), or tickets may be bought at the door.

Tom and Betty Druckenmiller will be at Godfrey Daniels on Sunday, December 13th at 4 p.m. in Brightest and Best Old Time Christmas Show; 

Join Tom, Betty and Nathan Druckenmiller with Norm Williams and Charles Kiernan for a trip back in time and up into the mountains for a Christmas show filled with wonderful seasonal music and stories about Christmas as it was. The show includes readings from Jean Ritchie, Sheila Kay Adams and others and music from Tommy Jarrell, Joe Newberry and other legendary old-time musicians. Slow down and enjoy an afternoon of Christmas traditions that will stir the soul.

Reservations are recommended for the show – Price: $15.50 / $10.50 with donation of new gloves or socks

The Druckenmillers also host First Tuesday of each month at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem; an open old-time jam from 7:00 pm -9:00 pm. Admission to First Tuesday is now FREE to all who wish to play or listen.

Twelve-year-old Maggie Friedman, who first sang in front of an audience at Make Music in 2014, sang in the Upper Perkiomen Middle School musical Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr last spring, and then went on to sing with the Philadelphia-based International Opera Theater in Italy during the month of August, 2015. You can read more about her (and her trip to Italy) in the Town and Country. Hopefully, she’ll be back on stage locally in the next school musical and at MMUP 2016.

Guitarist and singer Tom Cooney can often be found at local open mic’s and was recently heard in New Haven, Connecticut, playing with two lifelong friends and musicians – singer-songwriter and guitarist Tom Rotchford of Storrs, and multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter Lou Davis of Bridgeport (via upstate NY). In addition to playing covers, Tom also plays some of his own compositions.

Be sure and check back for more updates on our MMUP musicians “beyond June 21st,” in the new year ahead.