Concord Chorale to perform holiday concerts
The Concord Chorale welcomes the holiday season with “Laud to the Nativity.”
The chorale will perform Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant St. The concert is also performed on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Church, 43 Pine St., Exeter.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors and students, and available at Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main St., and Merrimack County Savings Bank, 167 N. State St. in Concord and in Exeter at Water Street Books, 125 Water St. You may also get tickets from chorale members, by calling 485-5862, visiting the chorale website, concordchorale.org, and at the door.
Celebrating its 47th season of excellent performance, the chorale’s auditioned singers are joined by professional soloists and musicians to present “Laud to the Nativity,” by Ottorino Respighi. This singular work displays Respighi’s fascination with ancient forms and sonorities, hearkening back to sounds baroque and renaissance. The work is unique in its accompanying force, a woodwind sextet of oboe, English horn, flutes and bassoons. Respighi illuminates a heartfelt and stirring telling of the nativity story with characters of the Angel, Mary and a Shepherd sung by Jenni Cook, soprano, Emily Jaworski, mezzo-soprano, and Sean Parr, tenor – all luminary singers and music educators in the Granite State.
The chorale pairs this gem with works by Schütz, Palestrina, Stroope, Trotta, new music by Dale Ramsey and a Christmas chuckle from PDQ Bach. Join the Chorale for this warmest welcome to the holiday season.
Elibet Chase
VNA Newly Bereaved support session Dec. 1
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is offering a bereavement program “Newly Bereaved” Support Session on Dec. 1, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Concord Regional VNA Hospice House, 240 Pleasant St. Sessions are held the first Tuesday of each month.
This session provides grief education and support for those who have experienced the recent loss of a loved one. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, please call 224-4093, ext. 2828 or email carmella.dow@crvna.org.
Andrew Morse
St. Nicholas Fair Dec. 5 at Grace Episcopal
Grace Episcopal Church in East Concord is pleased to announce the annual St. Nicholas Fair will offer a wide variety of holiday treasures for everyone. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and holiday shoppers will find one-of-a-kind artists’ quality gifts, home-made pies, cookies and cakes, sweets, fudge, New England Baked Beans, including grilled hot dogs, pie-by-the-slice, jewelry and even gifts for your favorite cat and dog. The talented parishioners of Grace Church work year round to fill the parish hall with everything from hand-knit hats and mittens to traditional holiday ornaments and decorations. Additionally, shoppers can explore the “White Christmas Elephant Sale” and “Used Book Sale” offering bargains and treasures for everyone’s budget. If you are looking for affordable gifts for family, friends and even teachers, you will find it all here at the 2015 St. Nicholas Fair.
Be sure to stay for a meal at the St. Nicholas Cafe serving breakfast and lunch, featuring home-made soups, breads and of course home-made pie-by-the-slice hot out of the oven – just like mom makes! And once again you will find the freshest holiday evergreen wreaths with a wide selection of pre-made florist quality bows.
For more information about the 2015 St. Nicholas Fair, please call Grace Episcopal Church at 224-2252 or visit graceeastconcord.org.
Grace Church is located at 30 Eastman St. in East Concord.
Tina Preston
VNA hosting youth holiday healing session in Bow
Concord Regional VNA is offering “Treasured Memories: Holiday Healing for Children & Teens,” free session Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 Church St. in Bow.
This grief support group is for youth and their caregivers coping with the loss of a loved one during the holiday season. Join us as we gather together to share memories and create memorial ornaments to honor our loved ones during this meaningful season.
Pre-registration is required. To register call 224-4093, ext. 2828 or email Carmella.Dow@crvna.org.
Andrew Morse
Gingerbread house event to benefit Pope SPCA
The Beech Hill School (Hopkinton) will host its 3rd annual Gingerbread House Benefit on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will go to the Pope-Memorial SPCA. Members of the community are invited, and all ages are welcome.
Participants will receive a locally baked gingerbread house, frosting and a supply of candy to decorate their house. Houses cost $25.
To reserve a house, please contact Emily at emilyricard@thebeechhillschool.org or at 715-5129.
Debbie Fries
Pat & the Hats to play True Brew Wednesday
Pat & the Hats will play a special “Thanksgiving Eve Party” at True Brew Barista featuring special guests, Tristan Omand, Delanie Pickering, Josh Kimball (Mines of Paris), Brian Coombes, Jason Lane (October Sons), Lauren Hurley, Joey Pierog (Four Legged Faithful), Brad Schneider (The Grebes), and David Shore (Trunk of Funk)
The event kick off at 8 p.m. and goes till midnight. Cost is $5.
Patrik Gochez
Learn about N.H.’s beer history at Work Nest
Glenn Knoblock explores the fascinating history of New Hampshire’s beer and ale brewing industry from Colonial days, when it was home- and tavern-based, to today’s modern breweries and brew pubs at Work Nest on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Unusual and rare photos and advertisements document this changing industry and the state’s earliest brewers, including the renowned Frank Jones. A number of lesser-known brewers and breweries that operated in the state are also discussed, including the only brewery owned and operated by a woman before the modern era.
Illustrations present evidence of society’s changing attitudes towards beer and alcohol consumption over the years. Whether you’re a beer connoisseur or a “tea-totaler,” this lecture will be enjoyed by adults of all ages.
The event is free and open to the public, but due to limited seating RSVP is requested.
Visit worknestnh.com for more info.
Karina Kelley
Beaver Meadow to install golf simulators
Beaver Meadow Golf Course will be installing two aboutGolf PGA Tour Golf Simulators. They will be the only publicly available simulators in Concord and are the same golf simulators you see on the Golf Channel.
A local company, Cedar Mill Group, has been selected to do the fit-up in the function room and the pro shop, which is necessary for installing the two simulators.
“The project is moving along nicely and we are anticipating an installation of early January 2016,” said Ken Reynolds, aboutGolf Eastern Regional Manager.
Parks and Recreation Director David Gill indicated that this will allow the golf course to stay open through the winter and enhance year-round programming.
“Adding golf simulators will allow the course to offer several indoor winter leagues, private rentals, first class club fittings and golf lessons using the video system provided by the software,” Golf Course Manager Sid Chase said.
The year-round unit will also be used to show sporting events and to host corporate workshops on the large 15-foot high definition screen.
“This winter, Beaver Meadow will also continue to provide groomed cross country ski trails and a large ice skating pond for the community. With the addition of the indoor golf simulators, Beaver Meadow will become one of Greater Concord’s favorite year round destinations,” Gill said.
The course will be updating their web site as construction begins in December. Registration for the new winter indoor golf leagues is underway.
For more information, please call the golf course at 228-8954 or visit beavermeadowgolfcourse.com.
David Gill
East Concord Garden Club to host tree lighting
The East Concord Garden Club will host its annual tree lighting with Christmas carols at Pecker Park in East Concord on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. There will be free refreshments to follow at the East Concord Congregational church. All are welcome to attend this fun event sponsored by the East Concord Garden Club.
Jean Wilcox
Music school students at state auditions
Three Concord Community Music School voice students received top honors at the National Association of Teachers of Singing 2015 Granite State Student Auditions, which were held at the music school earlier in November.
Tyler Shore and Gracie Kontak were awarded first and second place in the Upper High School division. Olivia Kinhan was also one of the six selected finalists, who all performed in the final round. All three students study with Hannah Schramm Murray, chair of the music school’s voice department.
“I am so proud of all of our students who took part,” said Murray. “Our fantastic and comprehensive curriculum at CCMS allows for students to rehearse with an accompanist and their teachers during their lessons, provides ‘practice rounds’ in workshops, and lets students perform their pieces ahead of time in student recitals. In combination with the stellar teaching that occurs in the private studio, this is a recipe for success.”
Thirty-six students from across the state competed before a panel of nine judges. Two students in the Seacoast studio of Andrea Veal, music school faculty member and president of Granite State NATS, also received awards in the musical theater competition.
“This was the first time we have divided high school into upper and lower categories, and it was very successful for the younger singers who often don’t get recognized when competing against upperclassmen,” said Veal.
The National Association of Teachers of Singing is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world, with more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and more than 30 other countries. Thousands of students participate in NATS Student Auditions nationwide each year, and receive constructive feedback on their progress. Top performers in chapter, district and regional student competitions have the opportunity to advance to the national round of auditions.
“Being host of this competition each year is an honor,” said Murray. “I’m proud that it’s at our school.”
“I love listening to high school singers, and found these performances especially thrilling,” said music school president Peggy Senter. “The level of performance was so high that it’s a huge honor to be chosen as finalists in such a competitive field. What a great day.”
Liz Faiella
Bikran Yoga to host open house this Saturday
Bikram Yoga Concord is hosting an open house on Saturday with free yoga classes all day.
Class times are 7 a.m., 9 a.m., noon and 4 p.m.
Bikram Yoga is the original hot yoga. It is a 90-minute class consisting of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. Never done yoga? Injuries? Beginners always welcome! Bikram Yoga is a therapeutic series that strengthens and heals the body, restoring the body’s natural range of motion. Bikram says “You’re never too old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch again.”
Discounts on class packages will be available all day.
Allie Foy
Better Choices, Better Health being offered
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association is offering Better Choices, Better Health in Concord, a six-week self-management program to help adults living with ongoing health conditions feel better, regain control of their health and start doing the things they want to do. The program is on Mondays beginning Dec. 7, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at Good Life Programs & Activities, 254 N. State St.
Ongoing health conditions include but are not limited to back pain, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, obesity and fibromyalgia.
There is no fee to attend this program and space is limited. To register, call Concord Regional VNA at 224-4093 or 1-800-924-8620, ext. 5815 or visit crvna.org.
Andrew Morse
