Tag: Gloucester Meetinghouse

A Big Band Holiday

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Thank you Kathleen Williams for sending this to me.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2022

SWING INTO THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE CAPE ANN BIG BAND ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 AT 7:00 P.M.
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation welcomes the Cape Ann Big Band and guest vocalists in a magical evening of holiday music at the Gloucester Meetinghouse at the corner of Middle and Church Streets. This concert was just added to our schedule by popular demand!

Get into the spirit of the season with “A Big Band Holiday” concert by the Cape Ann Big Band. The Cape Ann Big Band’s other holiday engagements have already sold out, so don’t miss this very special opportunity. Concertgoers of all ages will feel the joy of the season in this program featuring the signature sound of the Cape Ann Big Band that includes holiday favorites, hits from the golden era of big band swing, and a visit from the chief elf himself, Santa Claus. The band will be joined by several guest vocalists well known to Cape Ann audiences. Joining in the musical celebration of the holidays will be Alexandra Grace, Emily Grace, Rhiannon Hurst, Scott Parisi, John Rockwell, Nathan Seavey, and the “TrebleHurst” trio. This unforgettable program will also feature a reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” by Santa Claus.

Tickets are available online at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. General admission is $25; students with ID $5; children under 12 free. This performance will be open seating – doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green. The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.

For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

We thank the sponsors of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s 2022-2023 Autumn, Winter, Spring Concert and Event Series:
GUARANTOR: Woodie Brock, Patricia Roach & Robert Martin, Scobie Ward
PLATINUM: Anonymous, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Linzee Coolidge
GOLD: J.J. & Jackie Bell, John & Janis Bell, Karen Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank
SILVER: JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Patricia Poore
BRONZE: Beth Graham & William Schulz, Sandra & John Ronan, Holly Tanguay, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and Michael Dyer
SPECIAL THANKS: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Essex County Community Foundation

 

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Presents

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

 

November 29, 2022

THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS A HOLIDAY CONCERT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17
“AMERICAN ORIGINALS: A MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS”
The Musicians of the Old Post Road perform chamber music from the Moravian community
played on period instruments.

The Musicians of the Old Post Road return for the sixth consecutive year in a candlelight evening of chamber music
for the holiday season. The December 17 concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Gloucester Meetinghouse at the
corner of Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester.

The Musicians of the Old Post Road perform on period instruments and will be joined by soprano Jessica Petrus
and mezzo-soprano Hilary Ann Walker.

Musical selections are drawn from Moravian composers including several modern-day premieres of works penned
by America’s Moravian immigrants along with selections by Johann Joachim Quantz, Carl Heinrich Graun, and
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, the fifth son of J.S. Bach.

Early music expert, Martin Pearlman, describes the Moravian community’s contribution to composition and performance:
“If a traveler to America in the 18th or early 19th century wanted to find the best music performed and written in the
European tradition” it would be found “in the churches and settlements of the Moravians.

Tickets are available online at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. Preferred seating is $45 and general
seating $30; students with ID $10; children under 12 free.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub,
entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is
currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green. The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community
Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program towards a total project goal of $340,000.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.

For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

We thank the sponsors of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s 2022-2023 Autumn, Winter, Spring Concert and Event Series:
GUARANTOR: Woodie Brock, Patricia Roach & Robert Martin, Scobie Ward
PLATINUM: Anonymous, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Linzee Coolidge
GOLD: J.J. & Jackie Bell, John & Janis Bell, Karen Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank
SILVER: JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Patricia Poore
BRONZE: Beth Graham & William Schulz, Sandra & John Ronan, Holly Tanguay, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and Michael Dyer
SPECIAL THANKS: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Essex County Community Foundation

From our friends at the Gloucester Meetinghouse

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2022
GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON OF SILENT MOVIES WITH LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT BY KEYBOARD ARTIST JEFF RAPSIS OCTOBER 30 AT 3:00 P.M.
Bring the whole family to the Gloucester Meetinghouse at the corner of Church and Middle Streets on Sunday, October 30 for an entertaining afternoon of classic silent movies with live keyboard accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
Before elaborate soundtracks and before actors spoke in films, keyboard artists entertained audiences with their live improvised musical accompaniment to follow a film’s storyline. Children and adults of all ages will be delighted with the musical interpretation of keyboard artist Jeff Rapsis as he infuses new life into three works from the early era of cinematic history. Rapsis has entertained audiences of all ages across New England with his fresh interpretation of this lost technique. The three films were selected for their wide appeal featuring non-stop action and knee-slapping comedy routines. Presented on a large screen with live keyboard accompaniment, the afternoon of silent films offers a unique artform and an unforgettable experience for all.
Tickets are available online at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. General seating $15; students with ID $5; children under 12 free.
The three films to be shown on October 30 are:
The Haunted House (1921)
Buster Keaton stars in this film about a gang of robbers, a crooked bank manager, and the bank’s teller who converge on a booby-trapped house decorated to appear haunted in order to fool the authorities. A series of uproarious encounters between the antagonists leaves the audience wondering who the true villain really is.
The Floorwalker (1916)
Charlie Chaplin stars in his signature role as “The Tramp” in this early comedy. The antics of an unruly customer (Chaplin) foil the crooked manager’s plans to make off with the store’s cash. This film features sight gags galore with an early version of an attempt to run down the up escalator and one character “mirroring” the movements of another.
The Red Balloon (1956) Le ballon rouge
A red balloon follows a young boy through the streets of Paris with varying reactions from his friends, family, and a gang of ruffians. The film received multiple awards including the Cannes Film Festival, and an Oscar Award for Best Original Screenplay. Written, produced, and directed by Albert Lamorisse, the film features his five-year-old son Pascal in the leading role and his daughter Sabine.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green. The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.
For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

UU Music Meetinghouse Green with the Alex Minasian Quartet

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2022

ALEX MINASIAN QUARTET PERFORMS AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN FRIDAY, JULY 22
Alex Minasian, acclaimed jazz pianist and impresario, brings his quartet to Music on Meetinghouse Green for a free
Friday evening concert at the corner of Middle and Church Streets, July 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Alex Minasian quickly earned the attention of the music world for his performances at the country’s most famous
jazz venues including the Blue Note, Birdland, Village Vanguard, and The Apollo Theater. His brilliant career has found
him sharing the stage with jazz legends James Ingram, Arturo Sandoval, Marilyn McCoo, Joe Pesci, Hank Jones, Clark Terry,
and many others. He has also headlined important jazz celebrations including the Rochester Jazz Festival and performed at
the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Istanbul Jazz Festival.  New York City audiences will find him performing weekly at the
iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant. He has been featured in Yerevan Magazine, a Los Angeles-based publication promoting
Armenian news and culture. Minasian teams up with bassist Brandi Disterheft, drummer Joe Farnsworth, and saxophonist Bill Pierce
for their first appearance at the Music on Meetinghouse Green summer music concerts.

Free-will donations will support the concert’s featured local non-profit partner Maritime Gloucester, inspiring students and visitors
to value marine science, maritime heritage, and environmental stewardship through hands-on education and experiences. The
evening’s food vendor is Crepes du Jour.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Now entering its seventh season, Music on Meetinghouse Green features nine free Friday evening concerts from July 8 to September 9.
Performances are held on the Green and feature great music, favorite foods from local vendors, and a different North Shore non-profit
organization featured each week through free-will donations from the audience. Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m.
Some chairs will be provided and audience members are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Picnic with delicious local
food from our vendors or bring your own. Performances are handicapped accessible and parking on the Green is limited to persons
with disabilities.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment
venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore
Meetinghouse Green. The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the
Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our sponsors, many of whom have contributed since the series’ first year, all of the season’s expenses for musicians and logistics
are fully paid making it possible for 100% of audience donations to go directly to our non-profit partners.

PLATINUM: John and Janis Bell, J.J. and Jackie Bell, Karen Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward, GOLD: BOMCO,
Mary Hintlian, Trish Roach and Rob Martin, Mary Weissblum, SILVER: JoeAnn Hart and Gordon Baird, Landesign, Susan Mckain and Ken Steiner,
Charles Nazarian, John and Sandra Ronan, BRONZE: Jerry Ackerman, Peter Calkins and Susan Casey, Jonathan Golding and Sally Bradley-Golding,
Joe and Maggie Rosa, Kathleen and Peter Van Demark, Kathleen Williams

For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

Music on Meetinghouse Green

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2022

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 7TH SEASON OF
MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN, FREE FRIDAY EVENING CONCERTS AT 6:00 P.M.

Back for the seventh season, Music on Meetinghouse Green features the best in musical entertainment, with everything from Jazz, classic rock ‘n roll and cabaret, to Klezmer, punk, and Middle Eastern fusion! Food vendors offer up delicious audience favorites. Each week a local Cape Ann non-profit organization is featured and supported by freewill donations.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation has been organizing this series since 2016 which has continued to grow in audience popularity and in support for Cape Ann’s non-profit community. Last year’s season attracted more than 2,500 concertgoers and raised more than $15,000 all of which benefitted local non-profits.

The series of nine free outdoor concerts runs from July 8 to September 9 and performances are held on Meetinghouse Green at the corner of Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester. Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m. Some chairs will be provided and audience members are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Picnic with delicious local food from our vendors or bring your own. Performances are handicapped accessible and parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities.

The John Baboian Ensemble has opened the season in support of Pathways for Children in years past and will, once again, kick off the 2022 season of Music on Meetinghouse Green. Baboian is a well-known Jazz guitarist and composer and frequently teams up with fellow musicians from the Berklee College of Music. He has shared the stage with music legends both here and abroad.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green. The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our sponsors, many of whom have contributed since the series’ first year, all of the season’s expenses for musicians and logistics are fully paid making it possible for 100% of audience donations to go directly to our non-profit partners.

MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN FULL SCHEDULE

DATE MUSICIANS NON-PROFIT PARTNER FOOD VENDOR
July 8 John Baboian Ensemble Pathways for Children Causeway
July 15 Ezekiel’s Wheels Backyard Growers Causeway
July 22 Alex Minasian Quartet Maritime Gloucester Crepes du Jour
July 29 Rhiannon Hurst and Quartet Open Door Lobster Roller
August 5 What Time Is It, Mr. Fox North Shore Health Project Rhea Pizzeria
August  12 The Goddesses HAWC Lobster Roller
August 19 Willie Alexander’s

Persistence of Memory Orchestra

 Grace Center Crepes du Jour
August 26 Hye Fusion Gloucester Education Foundation Rhea Pizzeria
September 9 Cape Ann Big Band Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Causeway

 

For more information about the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, programs and events, or to sign up for the concert mailing list, please visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

 

World Premier Composition Performed at Gloucester Meetinghouse

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            MAY 5, 2022

WORLD PREMIERE COMPOSITION PERFORMED AT GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE

The highlight of a program on the international remembrance day of the Holocaust called Yom HaShoah, that was presented in the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse on Middle Street last Sunday, May 1st, was the world premiere of a composition by Leslie Steinweiss called “The Grip of Evil: The Endurance of Hope.  It was performed with narration by Judith Black by an ensemble including strings, flute, clarinet, piano and two vocal soloists, conducted by the composer.  The event was co-hosted by Temple Ahavat Achim and the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation.

Composer and Lyricist Leslie Steinweiss with the narrator and ensemble after the performance

The program had to be postponed two years due to the pandemic.  A group of donors from the Temple, led by Eve and Phil Cutter, commissioned the Steinweiss piece in 2019 and Sunday’s performance was the long-anticipated premiere.

Donor Phil Cutter chatting with Stephen Bates, who played the clarinet and flute

Two other original pieces were performed during the event.  Stephen Bates presented his composition called “Remembrance of Things Past and Future” for solo clarinet and Abigale Reisman presented her piece “Gedanken” for string trio.

Composer Abigale Reisman performs her piece “Gedanken” for string trio with Anna Seda, cello and Rebecca Hallowell, viola

The program included a dramatic remembrance story about the Holocaust presented by Judith Black and readings from the period by Ally Kramer, Hadassa Goldberg and Emma Quateman.

Storyteller Judith Black acts out a dramatic remembrance account of the Holocaust

The next program in the spring series at the Meetinghouse is performance of beloved Bach orchestral works including the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, played on period instruments by the Appleton Consort on Saturday, May 21, at 8:00pm.  For more information and online ticket purchases visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Event photos provided by Kathleen Williams

 

 

 

 

 

Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      April 26, 2022

 

CONCERT OF ORIGINAL MUSIC

MARKS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY,

GLOUCESTER, SUNDAY, MAY 1

 As warfare in Eastern Europe awakens memories of millions of people slaughtered for only who they were, not for what they did, observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place this coming week, including in Gloucester on Sunday, May 1, starting at 3 p.m., in the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse.

There, the nonprofit Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation and Temple Ahavat Achim, Cape Ann’s Jewish congregation, will jointly present a concert of original works for the occasion. The musical centerpiece is the premiere of “The Grip of Evil: the Endurance of Hope,” an orchestral and vocal work by New York City composer and lyricist Leslie Steinweiss, who will conduct his work,

The program also includes a solo written and played by renowned clarinetist Stephen Bates of Manchester, a violin solo by Abigale Reisman, the synagogue’s music director, and narration by professional storyteller Judith Black.

Holocaust Remembrance Day (in Hebrew, Yom HaShoah), originated in Israel in 1951 as a memorial to the estimated six million Jews and other civilian peoples executed during World War II. Over the years its mission has widened to include tribute to an estimated five million others worldwide whose lives were taken with genocidal intent over the 20th Century. The date of Holocaust Remembrance Day varies; in Israel, it is observed this year on April 27.  Business and even road traffic there briefly comes to a stop when sirens sound at 11 a.m., with motorists often leaving their cars to mark the moment together.

Along with the named principals the performers are vocalists Janine Solheim, soprano, and Wes Hunter, tenor, and instrumentalists are Rebecca Hallowell, viola; Anna Seda, cello, and Kathleen Forgac, piano.

The Gloucester concert will be in the 1806 Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on Middle Street at Church Street in downtown Gloucester. Tickets are $45 for premium seating, $30 for general seating, and $10 for students. Full access for those who are physically disabled is at the side entrance at 10 Church Street. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org/events.

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE AUDIENCE RAISES OVER $4,500 FOR UKRAINE RELIEF

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE AUDIENCE RAISES OVER $4,500 FOR UKRAINE RELIEF

  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—PHOTO ATTACHED                                                                                  Tuesday, March 22, 2022

An audience that applauded the return of live concerts to the Gloucester Meetinghouse on Sunday also brought compassion as they
gave more than $4,500 to support war relief efforts in the Ukraine by the International Rescue Committee.

The concert, a “Bach Birthday Bash” to mark the 337th birthday of famed composer Johann Sebastian Bach, attracted close to
200 listeners to the Meetinghouse, the oldest standing church edifice in Gloucester and home to the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.

The concert featured harpsichord, violin, organ and vocal selections from Bach’s diverse repertoire and was presented by the
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to preserving the historic building and
increasing its use for public functions. The performance ended with the Ukrainian National Anthem, whose words include,
“Our enemies shall vanish like dew in the sun; soul and body shall we lay down for our freedom.”

This was the first of three spring concerts scheduled after two years of coronavirus pandemic conditions brought the suspension
of nearly all open public events at the Meetinghouse. The next concert, scheduled for Sunday, May 1, will be a Holocaust memorial
performance featuring a specially commissioned orchestral work to be presented jointly by Temple Ahavat Achim and the
Meetinghouse Foundation. The final concert on Sunday, May 22, will present the Appleton Consort, performing Bach on
period instruments including the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.

The large response for Ukrainian war relief through a free-will offering surprised Meetinghouse Foundation president Charles Nazarian.
“We were greatly encouraged by this outpouring,” he said. “It far exceeded all our expectations, showing the concern and great generosity
of our community concerning the struggle for freedom in Ukraine.” Admission to the concert itself was free, underwritten by the
Foundation’s annual concert sponsors.

The Meetinghouse Foundation provides a permanent base for secular support to preserve one of Gloucester’s most revered historic buildings,
built in 1806 as the home of the first Universalist church in America. The Foundation is modeled on a nonprofit that supports Boston’s famed Old North Church.

 

Information about upcoming concerts and events, the Foundation, and an internet link to a YouTube recording of Sunday’s Bach birthday concert,
is available at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

-end-

Photo: Violinist Emily Hale playing a Bach sonata at the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

“Bach Birthday Bash” Sunday, March 20, 2022, where more than $4,500 was raised for Ukrainian war relief.

$4,500 Raised at Concert for War Relief. PRESS FINAL 03.22.22

Reminder MLK Day

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE MLK DAY ANNUAL CELEBRATION JANUARY 17TH!

 ~ CHASNAZ

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will host it 6th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, live on Zoom, on Monday, January 17th at 2:00pm. Please preregister at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

The Racial Climate in Gloucester, What Lies Ahead will be the focus of the 2-hour program, including including findings of a new community survey. The keynote speaker will be Brian Saltsman, Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion at Alfred University in upstate New York. He is a leading advocate of addressing community issues between dominant and marginalized racial, ethnic or economic sectors as allies, a process known as “allyship.”

The invited presenting organizations are:

  • The Gloucester Racial Justice Team, reporting on a survey that assessed how much people of color “feel like they have a sense of community and belong in the city, including how race and ethnicity play a role in their daily lives,” according to GRJT spokesperson Gail Seavey.
  • The North Shore Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which most recently has focused on racism issues within Danvers High School athletic teams. A branch leader will discuss the North Shore branch’s activities across a region stretching from Lynn to New Hampshire.
  • The Diversity and Equity Committee of the Gloucester 400th Anniversary Celebration, which is researching narrative stories that accurately depict racial and ethnic relationships since European settlement began displacing the native, indigenous Pennacook-Abenaki peoples. This will include years of slave ownership and maritime commerce in the global slave trade.

A video of this program with be available on the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s YouTube channel afterwards. The Foundation is a nonsectarian, federally-recognized nonprofit, organized to promote the preservation and community programming of the historic 1806 Meetinghouse on Middle Street, home of the first Universalist Church in America. Tax-deductible donations are welcome and may be made on the website, or by check to “GMF” at 10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.

Musicians of the Old Post Road Gloucester Meetinghouse

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

PRESS RELEASE

Sounding Joy: Musicians of the Old Post Road

Friday, December 17th, 2021, 7:30 pm in the historic (1806) Gloucester Meetinghouse, on the green at the corner of Middle & Church Street.

On December 17 at 7:30 pm, The Musicians of the Old Post Road present its new holiday program “Sounding Joy.” The concert features jubilant works from
the Classical Period, including Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, with acclaimed soprano Jessica Petrus. This is the ensemble’s fifth holiday concert hosted by the
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation.

Soloist Jessica Petrus has been a frequent guest for the group’s holiday programs. She has performed widely in the U.S. but is familiar to regional audiences
through her performances with Musicians of the Old Post Road, Handel & Haydn Society, Emmanuel Music, among others.

Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate will be performed in its less often heard Christmas version. The program will also include rarely-performed musical gems— charming pastorellas
by Bernhard Hupfeld and Gregor Joseph Werner and a folksy Christmas aria by Joseph Haydn. Enthusiastic audience response to a delightful “Sleigh Ride” suite by
Leopold Mozart performed by the ensemble last season inspired the group to explore and include another Mozart “Musical Sleigh Ride” for this program.

Instrumentalists for this concert include flutists Suzanne Stumpf and Rachel Carpentier; violinists Sarah Darling and Jesse Irons; violist Marcia Cassidy;
cellist Daniel Ryan; and organist Wesley Hall. All will perform on period instruments or replicas.

TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION

Tickets are available at the door and in-advance at:  www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Preferred seating $45; general $30; students $10 with ID; under 12 free. Masks are required inside the Meetinghouse and proof of vaccination or
recent negative Covid test is requested.

Accessible side entrance with a lift is at 10 Church Street. Event parking is allowed on the green.

Please consider being a Sponsor or our 2021-22 Concert and Events Series, which offers superb quality music, civic events and educational entertainment
for the Cape Ann community and on our YouTube channel. Sponsors receive preferred seating. See the web site for more details.

ABOUT MUSICIANS OF THE OLD POST ROAD

Musicians of the Old Post Road takes its name from its acclaimed concert series that brings period instrument performances of music of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries
to beautiful historic buildings along New England’s fabled Old Post Road, the first thoroughfare to connect Boston and New York City in the late 17th century.

Winner of the 1998 Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society, Musicians of the Old Post Road has also received programming awards from
Chamber Music America and the US-Mexico Fund for Culture. The ensemble has toured in Germany, Austria, and Mexico, and has appeared at festivals and on
concert series in the US, including the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, the Boston Early Music Festival Concert Series, the Castle Hill Festival, the Artists Series
at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and the Connecticut Early Music Festival. The ensemble has held a residency at Dartmouth College and was featured on
WCVB television’s “Chronicle” program and 99.5 All Classical radio’s “Live from Fraser” program.

The ensemble’s discography includes seven recordings that have each been praised in the US and abroad. They include: The Virtuoso Double Bass (Titanic, 1994),
Trios and Scottish Song Settings of J. N. Hummel (Meridian, 1999), Galant with an Attitude: Music of Juan and José Pla (Meridian, 2000),
Quartets of Telemann and Bodinus (Meridian, 2004), Feliz Navidad: Christmas from Spain and New Spain (Meridian, 2008), Roman Handel (Centaur, 2013),
and Earthly Baroque (Centaur, 2017).

Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

REFUGEES AND IMMIGRATION: A NEW ERA

 ~ CHASNAZ

A SYMPOSIUM IN THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2-5:00 PM, WITH VIDEO SIMULCAST ON YOUTUBE

This event, part of an annual series hosted by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation on topics of civic concern, will concentrate on what is happening in our communities and around the country now. More information and video link at: http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Before our last Summer Series concert we heard an impassioned talk by Congressman Seth Moulton about our responsibility for the safety and resettlement of people from Afghanistan in New England. The Symposium will take a broader view, hearing from members of several organizations who have assisted new arrivals from many countries for a long time. Of equal importance, some presenters are individuals who have been through the immigration or refugee experience themselves. They will gather for a round table discussion in the last segment, addressing questions submitted from the audience, helping us to understand how best to offer our support. 

The historic (1806) Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian-Universalist Church, is located on the green at the intersection of Middle and Church Streets. A lift to the Sanctuary level is available just inside the 10 Church Street door. It is a free event – all are welcome. Your safety is important to us. Masks are required inside the building and seating is staggered to encourage social distancing. We request that the audience be vaccinated or have had a recent negative Covid test. Refreshments will be available at break times outside near the front entrance.

SYMPOSIUM PRESENTERS:

Elsabel Rincon, Founder and Executive Director of The Welcome Immigrant Network in Salem, and recipient of the Peter J. Gomes Service Award

Alexandra Weber, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer for the International Institute of New England in Boston

Andy Allen, Director of Adult Education at Wellspring House

Francis Mpfuranziza, who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo during the ethnic violence

Blanca Martinez, an immigrant representative from the Essex County Community Organization (ECCO) in Lynn

Rev. Rona Tyndall, Pastor, West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church, UCC, and organizer for Allies of Our Afghan Allies

Rev. Alice Erickson, Gloucester resident who has been active for many years in the process of resettling refugees

Melissa Buchanan, ESOL Coordinator for the Wellspring Adult Learning Center

Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Presents Annual Community Symposium

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS ANNUAL COMMUNITY SYMPOSIUM
Refugees and Immigration – A New Era     Saturday, November 20   2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will hold its 2021 Symposium Refugees and Immigration – A New Era on Saturday, November 20th from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, corner of Church and Middle Streets. The Symposium is free and open to the public. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test
plus masks are required. Refreshments are available for break times outside. Donations toward the ongoing restoration of the Meetinghouse are gratefully received.

The United States has entered a new era relating to immigration and refugees – one that has been clouded by the politics of previous administrations, hampered by
evolving policies, but founded on a humanitarian tradition of hope and opportunity for those seeking entry. Over the past year, the new administration has introduced
policies and practices that attempt to address the growing need for a comprehensive approach to relieving the pressures at our country’s borders and articulating a clear
and equitable process for those entering the country. But where are we now and where are we headed? The November 20th Symposium features local and regional experts
to discuss the current state of immigration and what is happening in our communities. Recent immigrants and refugees who have navigated the process will share their first-hand stories.

SYMPOSIUM PRESENTERS
Alexandra Weber, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer for the International Institute of New England in Boston; Elsabel Rincon, Founder and Executive Director of The Welcome
Immigrant Network in Salem, and recipient of the Peter J. Gomes Service Award recently presented by Representative Seth Moulton; Andy Allen, Director of Adult Education at Wellspring
House; Melissa Buchanan, ESOL Coordinator for the Wellspring Adult Learning Center; Rev. Alice Erickson, Gloucester resident who has been active in the process of resettling refugees;
and Blanca Martinez, an immigrant representative from the Essex County Community Foundation in Lynn, and Francis Mpfuranziza, who fled the Democratic Republic of Congo during the
ethnic violence, will share their first-hand experiences settling in the United States.

SYMPOSIUM TOPICS
Participants will discuss a broad range of topics from documented and undocumented immigrants, unaccompanied children, trafficking, and the expectations and experiences of resettled immigrants,
to border concerns and legal and tax issues. Presenters will participate in a round-table discussion at the conclusion of the program with opportunities for audience questions. An important element
of the Symposium will be the personal stories of immigrants, their reasons for coming to the United States, and their experiences navigating the resettlement process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s annual symposium seeks to provide an open forum for the community to come together to discuss topics of current importance and their impact at the
local level. Written questions from the audience will be given to the round-table group.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Unitarian Universalist Church, is located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. The accessible side entrance is at 10 Church Street. Event parking
is available on the green and at parking lots nearby in the Historic District. For more information on this program and for the full 2021-22 event schedule, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

 

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2021

WHAT TIME IS IT MR FOX? PERFORMS FRIDAY AUGUST 6 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents What Time Is It Mr. Fox? in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green
at the corner of Middle and Church Street, August 6 at 6:00 p.m. Named after a Victorian children’s game, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?
delivers their own brand of smoky cabaret, neo-soul and acoustic noir, sounding something like Leonard Cohen and Amy Winehouse
performing unplugged in a French café. Renowned for their original songs combining rich lyrical imagery with a cinematic sensibility,
their music explores themes of love, spirituality, and identity.

Free-will donations go to the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, North Shore Health Project, a group that works to alleviate
the health impacts of HIV/AIDS in our community, as well as providing LGBTQ+ services. The evening’s food vendor will offer pizza.
The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the
Meetinghouse a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF
newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

CONCERT DESCRIPTION
The band features 3rian King on lead vocals, guitar and keys; Renee Dupuis on lead vocals, keys and melodica; Nathan Cohen on
fiddle and trumpet; Joe Cardoza on upright bass; and Dennis Monagle on drums. In summer 2019, the band premiered their new
multimedia animated musical “Medusa,” a feminist retelling of the myth in a completely sold-out run at the Charles Hayden Planetarium,
Museum of Science, Boston. The team is currently adapting the play into a fully staged theater production.

Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from
local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience.
Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking
on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub,
entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is
currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.

OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to
our non-profit community partners.

Platinum          John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward

Gold                 BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.

Silver               Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner,
Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan
Bronze             Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner,
Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer

Meetinghouse Green performance

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2021

HYE FUSION PERFORMS FRIDAY JULY 23 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents Hye Fusion in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green
at the corner of Middle and Church Street, July 23 at 6:00 p.m. Hye Fusion integrates music of the Middle East with Western
jazz standards. The musicians play current and traditional instruments including the oud, classical and rhythm guitars, keyboard,
clarinet and saxophone as well as the Middle Eastern doumbek. The result is a dynamic synergy of melodies and rhythms. Free-will
donations go to the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, Maritime Gloucester, a group that inspires students and visitors to
value our maritime heritage, marine science and environmental stewardship. Local food vendor for the evening is Classic Cooks.
The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the
Meetinghouse a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter,
visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

CONCERT DESCRIPTION
American-born Hye Fusion’s style of integrating Middle eastern jazz comes from their family lineages, with deep roots in the Middle East.
They received their musical training from the New England Conservatory as well as from musical mentors such as Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.

Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from local vendors,
and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience. Concert goers bring lawn chairs
and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue,
and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse
Green to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.

OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.

Platinum          John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward

Gold                 BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.

Silver               Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan
Bronze             Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner, Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa,
Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer

Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation-Music on Meetinghouse Green, July 9 John Baboian

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2021

JOHN BABOIAN ENSEMBLE KICKS OFF RETURN OF FREE FRIDAY CONCERTS ON THE GREEN
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation opens the sixth season of Music on Meetinghouse Green on Friday, July 9 at 6:00 p.m. with famed guitarist John Baboian playing Jazz and Swing. Baboian’s ensemble is joined by renowned vocalist Sandi Bedrosian. The free outdoor concert will be held at the corner of Middle and Church Street with food available from the Causeway Restaurant. Free-will donations to support Pathways for Children, the evening’s featured local non-profit organization, will be requested. The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the Meetinghouse a net zero building.

John Baboian has shared the stage with a who’s who of music’s top vocalists and musicians for the last four decades. He has been on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music for more than 40 years and is well-known for his work in Jazz, Swing, Blues, Rock, R&B, Classical, Latin, and World music. In addition to his live concerts, television and radio appearances, Baboian is well known as a composer and educator  and has offered numerous international teaching clinics.

Baboian teams up with renowned vocalist Sandi Bedrosian for the July 9th concert on the Green. As a performer, Bedrosian is accomplished in Jazz, Swing, R&B, Classical, Top 40, Gospel and Liturgical music. She has starred in and directed numerous musical productions.

CONCERT DESCRIPTION
Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience. Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue. For more information about GMF, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.

Platinum              John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward

Gold                      BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.

Silver                     Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan

Bronze                  Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner, Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer

 

Revised MLK Day

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: rev. January 15, 2021

THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE FIFTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY ONLINE

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Presents the Fifth Annual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day called Listening to Generations of Local Voices.  The online event will premiere on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 2 p.m. on the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation YouTube channel and will be available anytime afterwards on YouTube in case you miss the premiere. 

The presentation is a collage assembled from videos of Cape Ann residents interwoven with excerpts from speeches by Dr. King and John Lewis.  It will honor MLK, who lived his beliefs that all people are created equal and that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  It will also remind us as John Lewis did, to remain persistent and continue to listen to younger generations as our country faces systemic racism. 

We hope the video will inspire everyone to imagine what it must be like to be in the shoes of “the other” and to be humbled by what we don’t know.  More information is available at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org where you will find a link to the video, or simply go to YouTube and search for “Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, MLK Day Celebration 2021.”

Postponing March 21, 2020 Back Birthday Concert at the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

March 13, 2020

Dear GMF Media Partners,

With deep regret but for the good of the community the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is postponing the March 21st Bach Birthday Concert.
The Mayor has asked that all public gatherings of over 25 people in close proximity be avoided due to the potential transmission of the coronavirus.
We are also postponing the April 19th event called The Endurance of Hope.  This will be a narrated concert in commemoration of the Holocaust
presented in collaboration with Temple Ahavat Achim.

Please note that both will be held at a later date when it is again safe for large indoor events.  We trust that will be in the not too distant future
and will keep you posted.  All advance ticket purchases will be honored.

On a happier note, the 5th season of our outdoor summer series Music on Meetinghouse Green is ready to roll.  The opening concert will be on July 10th
featuring the Berklee ensemble BeBop Guitars, with donations in support of Pathways for Children and food available from the Causeway.  The festival will
run nine Friday evenings, starting at 6:00pm.

Please feel free to share this announcement as needed.

Sincerely,

Charles Nazarian, president

BACH Birthday Concert/ SAVE THE DATE

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2020

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS A BACH BIRTHDAY CONCERT PERFORMED BY THE APPLETON CONSORT ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21 AT 7:30PM
Celebrate the 335th anniversary of Bach’s birth with an evening of his orchestral masterworks performed on period instruments at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, corner of Middle and Church Streets.

Tickets are available at the door or online with more information at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org. Preferred seating $45; general $30; students $10 with ID; under 12 free.

THE PROGRAM
The Appleton Consort performs some of Bach’s most beloved orchestral works at the Bach Birthday Concert on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. The program includes the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, the Violin Concerto in A Minor, Sinfonia from Cantata Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbatas, Sinfonia from Cantata Mer Hahn en neue Oberkeet, the Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in F minor, and the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major. Each piece is performed on period instruments and according to the instrumentation that Bach intended.

THE APPLETON CONSORT
The Appleton Consort, directed by Mark Dupere, is named for the town of Appleton, Wisconsin, home of Lawrence University, where Dupere is Director of Orchestral Studies. Samuel Appleton, prominent Massachusetts merchant and philanthropist who had lived in Ipswich, was the father-in-law of the founder of Lawrence University. Appleton made a generous gift to the Lawrence University library, and in gratitude, the citizens named the town for him. Generations of the Appleton family made their home in the Boston area and on Cape Ann with many connections to the area’s businesses and institutions. For example, Thomas Appleton who was considered the finest organ builder in New England, built the first pipe organ in the gallery of Gloucester’s Unitarian Universalist Church in the 1820s.

Mark Dupere is Assistant Professor of Music at Lawrence University. His undergraduate study of the cello led to continued work at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, The Netherlands, where he specialized in baroque cello. It was here that Mark met his wife Emily Dupere who completed her studies in baroque violin. Mark has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe and is featured on numerous recordings. He was named New Young Artist at the Victoria Bach Festival, performed in the Leipzig Bach Competition, and apprenticed with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in London. As an educator, Mark seeks to share his passion for music-making and active engagement with audiences in the performance of music from all periods.

Members of the Appleton Consort include: Elisabeth Axtell and John Aubrey, horn; David Dickey, Andrew Blanke, and Joyce Alper, oboe; Allen Hamrick, bassoon; Emily Dupere, Asako Takeuchi, and Anna Griffis, violin; Lauren Nelson, viola; Mark Dupere, cello; Motomi Igarashi, bass; and Guy Whatley, harpsichord.

IN GRATITUDE
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is deeply grateful to all our 2019-20 Concert and Event Series Sponsors. We extend a special thank you to H. Woody Brock and Scobie Ward for their generous gifts to underwrite the Bach Birthday Concert.

LOCATION AND INFORMATION
The Gloucester Meetinghouse is located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. The accessible side entrance is at 10 Church Street. Weather permitting, event parking is available on the green and at parking lots nearby in the Historic District. Tickets are available at the door or online with more information at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org. Preferred seating $45; general $30; students $10 with ID; under 12 free.

For more information on this program and the full 2019-20 event schedule, please visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

 

 

Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Presents

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION PRESENTS

THE MUSICIANS OF THE OLD POST ROAD IN A PROGRAM CALLED

‘A CHRISTMAS PILGRIMAGE’

Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gloucester Meetinghouse corner of Middle and Church Streets in Gloucester.  The accessible side entrance is at 10 Church Street. Event parking is available on the green and at additional parking lots nearby in the Historic District.

The ensemble, The Musicians of the Old Post Road, returns for the fourth season to perform their greatly anticipated annual holiday concert held at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church. The program includes traditional favorites by Handel and Telemann and rarely-performed works by Bach contemporaries Christoph Graupner, Johann David Heinichen, Johann Christoph Pez, and Augustin Pfleger.

Tickets for A Christmas Pilgrimage are available at the door or online with more information at www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org. Preferred seating $45; general $30; students $10 with ID; under 12 free. Thanks to a generous sponsor this concert is dedicated to the memory of Carol Ackerman.

EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Musicians of the Old Post Road, a chamber ensemble based in the Boston area, specializes in works from the Baroque to early Romantic eras performed on period instruments. The ensemble is well known for bringing their audiences rediscovered masterpieces, works that are rarely performed in public. The Musicians of the Old Post Road received the Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society in 1998. They have seven CD recordings to their credit and have toured throughout North America and Europe.

Concert selections include Georg Philipp Telemann’s Der mit Sunden beleidigte Heiland; Johann David Heinichen’s, Pastorale per la Notte di Natale; Johann Christoph Pez’s, Concerto Pastorale; and Augustin Pfleger’s Mache dich auf, werde Licht. The centerpiece of the program is a world-premiere revival of Christoph Graupner’s cantata  Das Volk so im Finstern wandelt, researched and reconstructed by co-Artistic Directors Daniel Ryan and Suzanne Stumpf. Additional works will be the familiar Pifa sinfonia from G.F. Handel’s Messiah, and an audience sing-along with “Joy to the World,” adapted from one of Handel’s choruses.

Members of the ensemble, all specialists in period instrument performance, include flutist Suzanne Stumpf, violinist Sarah Darling, violist Marcia Cassidy, cellist Daniel Ryan, and fortepianist/harpsichordist Michael Bahmann. They are joined by four soloists well known to Boston area audiences: soprano Jessica Petrus; mezzo-soprano Sophie Michaux; tenor Jason McStoots; and baritone David McFerrin.

This concert is made possible by a generous gift in memory of Carol Ackerman. Carol is fondly remembered as a longtime member of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church and a devoted member of the church choir. Her passion for music was well known throughout Cape Ann and the Boston area where she sang in several choruses. She served on the board of Rockport Music and established their Music Outreach Program for young people.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Unitarian Universalist Church, is located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets. The accessible side entrance is at 10 Church Street. Event parking is available on the green and at additional parking lots nearby in the Historic District. For more information on this program and for the full 2019-20 event schedule, please visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUSICIANS OF THE OLD POST ROAD
The Musicians of the Old Post Road takes its name from its acclaimed concert series that brings period instrument performances of music from the 17th to the 19th centuries to historic buildings along New England’s fabled Old Post Road, the first thoroughfare to connect Boston and New York City in the late 17th century.

The ensemble has garnered a reputation for its original and unique holiday programming. Each December the ensemble spotlights outstanding works that have been lost to audiences for centuries. The Boston Musical Intelligencer described, “rich, delicious and completely unfamiliar works….Hurrah for the enterprising investigation of repertory by The Musicians of the Old Post Road and equally for their spirited playing and singing.”

Winner of the 1998 Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society, The Musicians of the Old Post Road has also received programming awards from Chamber Music America and the US-Mexico Fund for Culture. They have toured in Germany, Austria, and Mexico, and have appeared at festivals and on concert series in the US, including the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, the Boston Early Music Festival Concert Series, the Castle Hill Festival, the Artist Series at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and the Connecticut Early Music Festival. The ensemble held a residency at Dartmouth College and was featured on WCVB television’s “Chronicle” program and 99.5 All Classical radio’s “Live from Fraser” program. Their discography includes seven recordings that have each been praised in the US and abroad.

From our Friend Charles Nazarian, President Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni


The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is hosting a Symposium on finding common ground concerning gun violence and seeking effective solutions on Saturday May 19th from 2-6pm. Please see the attached Press Release, Fact Sheet and Poster.

Participants include Gloucester High School Students, American Legion Commander Mark Nestor, former Essex County District Attorney Kevin Burke, Cape Ann Clergy and nationally known gun-control legislation proponent John Rosenthal. The keynote speaker is Colin Woodard, author of “American Nations.” The event is divided into four, 45-minute segments with 15 minute refreshment breaks so that people may attend all, or part, of the afternoon. Admission is free with free-will offerings to the Foundation to benefit the ongoing preservation of the historic 1806 Meetinghouse.
Please post notices about this significant community gathering wherever you can.
For further information please see the GMF web site, feel free to contact me at 978-821-5291 or the GMF Events Chair, Sandy Ronan at 978-473-2134.

Thanks,
C
Charles L. Nazarian, president
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation

10 Church
Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org