Cantiamo Choir To Sing For The Hungry And Homeless Over The Holidays

BRIDGEPORT – The Cantiamo Choir under the direction of Marlane Tubridy of Weston will perform a concert to benefit the feeding programs of Catholic Charities on Sunday, November 23. The 3 pm concert will be performed at the Edgerton Center of Sacred Heart University.

“Giving Thanks” feature a lively mix of classical, pop, contemporary and religious music, including original compositions by Ms Tubridy.

The guest choir for the evening will be The Concert Choir of Fairfield County Children’s Choir under the direction of Jon Noyes. Kevin Cotellese will be the conductor of The Concert Choir of Fairfield County. The choir, which features children grades 4-12, has shared the stage with internationally known composers and performers.

 “We’re honored that the Cantiamo Choir has selected Catholic Charities as the recipient of its benefit concert,” said Al Barber, president of Catholic Charities. “The concert, which will support our food and nutrition programs across the Diocese, will be particularly meaningful over the Thanksgiving holiday, when people gather around the table to celebrate their blessings.”

Mr Barber said Charities serves over 800,000 meals a year through its Senior Nutrition Program, food pantries and soup kitchens including the Merton Center in Bridgeport and New Covenant House of Hospitality in Stamford.

“This is the season of giving thanks. There’s no better way than to raise the human voice in celebration of our gifts and to share the awareness that people are going to bed hungry and underfed in Fairfield County,” said Mr Barber. “With this difficult economy and rising costs of food and fuel, many are families feeling pinch and it’s more important than ever to reach out to them.”

Catholic Charities is a leading provider of family services, child care, adoption, housing, immigration services, nutrition and mental health services to people of all faiths in Fairfield County.

The program will begin with a “hits” medley including “Who put the bomp,” “I will follow him,” “Let it be me” and “To know you (is to love you).”

The 22-member Cantiamo Choir will also perform “Games people play” by Joe South, “We are one body,” the 1993 World Youth Day Theme Song by R. Scallon, “All Good Gifts” from Godspell by Stephen Schwartz, and “Through Your Care” from an original choral work written by Tubridy.

The performance will also include “The Creed” and “The Glory” from the Proclamation of Faith Mass No. 1 that Tubridy composed for the 50th Anniversary Mass of Notre Dame Parish in Easton.

Soloist will be soprano Kathryn Wieckhorst, a New York native who has performed the role of Musetta in La Boheme with the Brooklyn Conservatory Summer Opera Workshop, with whom she has also performed as Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. Ms Wieckhorst is also a soloist and chorister at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Manhattan.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door on the day of the concert at the Edgerton Center. Requested donation is $35 adults and $10 seniors and students; $50 VIP seating is also available. Call the box office at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at 203-371-7908 for tickets and additional information.