New Musical Memories Made

Now that Newtown Congregational Church has completed its building’s renovations and expansion at 14 West Street, the church has begun hosting public programs again in its sanctuary. In the near future, the church expects to begin using more of the new rooms and special spaces in its larger location now that all of its offices, classrooms, and lecture halls are under the same roof.

One of the first programs to be offered since the completion of NCC’s recent building project took place last Friday evening. “Musical Memories” was a concert performed by The Wind Ensemble of Western Connecticut. It was sponsored by members of the church to benefit the ongoing fundraising efforts of their music committee.

About 50 people turned out for the November 5 program, which opened with a folk song suite by R. Vaughan Williams and continued with “Amazing Graze,” a salute to American jazz, and a medley of Beatles songs.

The first half of the program concluded with “Someone to Watch Over Me,” featuring alto saxophone player David Reinhardt as soloist. The song was done in tribute “in fondest memory of our friend, Bob Stokes,” who died earlier this year.

Following an intermission, the concert continued with tributes to Disney movies, a symphonic portrait of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s works, a salute to Gershwin, and the performances of “Shenandoah” and “New York 1927.”

The Wind Ensemble is a group of volunteer musicians, both professional and amateur, whose goal is to provide musical programs for community and charitable events throughout the region. Musicians range from students to senior citizens, with diverse backgrounds: there are music teachers, a music therapist, medical professionals, an attorney, educators, a postal worker, an upholsterer, a computer consultant and programmer, a piano tuner, a stay-at-home other, and business rosters on the group’s roster of 26 musicians.

Robert Dubois has been the music director of The Wind Ensemble since autumn 2002.