Honoring a long standing tradition of Christmas music and celebrations, St. John’s Huntington, will present a concert of songs, carols and stories to be performed on Sunday, December 15 at 7 p.m. The concert, Sing Noël! will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect Street in Huntington Village.
The public is invited to take a joyous break from the holiday rush and enjoy “Sing Noël!”,with the musical talents of Lynn Norris, soprano, Leslie Valentine, mezzo-soprano, Douglas Purcell, tenor, Larry Long, Bass and Christine Doré, piano.
Leslie Valentine, organizer and performer said, “Our congregation is delighted to, once again, bring the joy of the holiday season with world class music that will hopefully inspire the audience. What started as a musical project to help with the restoration of the pipe organ, has turned into a 30+ year tradition at St. John’s church. Sing Noël! is a concert of Christmas, with beautiful music and inspiring stories featuring the talents of professional musicians from the New York area. It is an event that fills the hearts of concertgoers with the true spirit of Christmas. Staff, clergy and congregants welcome the community into the St. John’s Chapel for this musical performance.”
The concert will be followed by a reception in the Great Hall at St. John’s. Tickets are $20 with ticket discounts for Seniors (65+), veterans, and students ($10) at the door or by visiting www.stjohnshuntington.org/concerts. For more information, call 631-427-1752
This December, the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus (LIGMC) invites its audience to join with them as they “Make a Joyful Noise” to celebrate their love of singing and the spirit of the holiday season.
During concerts set for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect St., Huntington village; 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1692 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore; and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket, LIGMC will fire up the musical sleigh for a first half dedicated to the joy of singing and a rollicking second half filled with holiday favorites and surprises. Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase at the door or online at https://www.ligmc.org/concerts.
“The joy of singing is what brings these men together season after season, and the camaraderie and musicianship that grows from this bond is certainly something to celebrate!” said LIGMC Artistic Director and Accompanist Jeanette Cooper. “As showtime draws closer, I just know that the hard work of every single one of our choristers is going to give you something to remember and cherish.”
Earlier this season, LIGMC’s 19 singers hosted its “Heroes and Villains” cabaret brunch at VFW Post 433 in Sayville. Earlier in the fall, members sang the National Anthem at the Village of Manorhaven Sept. 11 memorial ceremony for the second consecutive year. Looking ahead, LIGMC members are set to make the trek to Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to perform in the lobby of the InterContinental Barclay New York, continuing a longstanding holiday tradition of spreading holiday cheer in the Big Apple.
“This season, we have had the pleasure of welcoming five new singers to LIGMC’s ranks – each of whom has quickly made their own mark on our brotherhood of song,” said Bill McCarthy, President of LIGMC’s Board of Directors. “We have found each other through the universal language of song – and this holiday season, we are looking forward to celebrating the season and sharing our unifying love of music with all of you.”
About the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus (LIGMC)
The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus is a volunteer, not-for-profit, community-based organization that provides diverse audiences with high-quality choral performances and musical experiences. LIGMC uses music to unite the LGBTQ+ community, fight prejudice and discrimination, foster a welcoming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ individuals to be their authentic selves and explore their diversified interests, and affirm the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to the region’s cultural life.
The choral group Belle Voci perform at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington. Photo by Lauren Feldman
By Lauren Feldman
The halls of St. John’s Episcopal Church on Prospect Street in Huntington were filled with the sound of music, with voices of hope and light Friday, Aug. 9. Belle Voci Intergenerational Choral Society, celebrating its 20th year, performed a Candlelight Remembrance for those whose lives have been afflicted with cancer, survivors and their loved ones.
Bonnie Scott and her daughter Jennifer Scott Miceli
“Belle Voci has been [in Huntington] for 20 years, so we are really pleased to welcome them for the first time to our church,” said Alex Pryrodny, music director at St. John’s since 2015. “It’s a wonderful cause, a wonderful event to be a part of.” Pryrodny participated in the concert as an accompanying pianist.
When asked why the partnership between St. John’s and Belle Voci has been so seamless, the music director said, “Singing is kind of a spiritual thing. There’s a natural connection to your feelings and emotions. Choir is a good way to express the feelings people have that they may not be able to express otherwise. It can be a really healing process.” Pryrodny said that both church and music may offer the same sense of catharsis.
And this seems to be what Belle Voci aims to achieve. As prominently stated on its website, “Concert repertoire is carefully programmed for its capacity to elicit a wide range of emotions associated with the cancer journey; we aim to provide a forum for performers and concertgoers to experience hope, contemplation, prayer, healing, peace and celebration through music and ritual.”
The society is a Long Island-based group of professional and amateur singers, collegiate singers, school-aged singers and music teachers. They have been brought together by the common mission of supporting cancer prevention, cure and catharsis through elevated and inspired choral performance and ceremony.
Songs performed at the concert included “Sing, Wearing the Sky” by Jake Runestad; “O Saltaris Hostia” by Eriks Esenvalds; “Vier Gesänge” by Johannes Brahms (poetry by Friedrich Ruperti); “The Last Rose of Summer” by Thomas Moore and Sir John Stevenson; the traditional Irish blessing “You Do Not Walk Alone”; “Flight” by Craig Carnelia; “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” arr. Kevin Philip Johnson; and “Con Te Partiro” arr. Mac Huff.
Two halves of the performance framed the Candlelight Remembrance ceremony. The Rev. Duncan Burns and Courtney Sack led the reading of the names.
Belle Voci was founded by Jennifer Scott Miceli after the loss of her mother, Bonnie Scott, to lung cancer. “Like many of you who have lost loved ones to cancer, the physical loss of my mother left a huge void in my life,” Micheli said on a dedication page to her mother.
“It’s been 19 years since Mom died, which also means that Belle Voci has reached its 20th season of sisters in song in support of cancer prevention and cure,” she continued. “Over the course of those seasons, and with your support, we are fortunate to have made charitable donations to the American Cancer Society, Optimum Health Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Northwell Hospice Care Network and Cancer Hope Network.”