A Family Festival Of Music

St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church will host a special performance on Sunday, December 17.

The choirs of St Rose, in addition to soloists and readers, will offer “O Come, Let Us Adore Him!” a family-oriented festival of traditional Christmas and holiday music. The performance will begin at 3 pm and all are welcome. Music Director Joseph J. Jacovino will conduct.

Admission is free, although freewill donations will be accepted.

In addition to the choirs, community members involved in the festival include the St Rose men’s and women’s clubs, The Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, elementary school children, and high school students. Courtney Oczkowski of Oxford and Tyler von Oy will be two of the afternoon’s vocal soloists.

Courtney is a 2006 graduate of Holy Cross High School and currently a student at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington. She is a soprano majoring in vocal performance.

She is a former student of Jean Westerman-Gregg and now studies with the acclaimed Marietta Simpson.

Tyler is a 2005 graduate of Newtown High School, where he was a four-year tenor in Honors Choir & Singers. He is a longtime student of Anne Carlson, and has performed in many regional musical theater productions. He spent the past summer performing musical theater productions in Texas.

He currently sings with the University of Connecticut Elite Concert Choir under the direction of the critically acclaimed Constance DeFotis in UConn’s School of Fine Arts.

Joseph Jacovino is director of music at Holy Cross High School and organist, cantor and choir director for St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown. He is musical director of The Waterbury Chorale, fresh off their Christmas concert at Waterbury’s Palace Theater.

Additionally, Mr Jacovino directs the Naugatuck Valley Community College Jazz Band, is a member of Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, and is accompanist for Connecticut Master Chorale. He is both an accomplished accompanist and concert pianist.

Special preconcert entertainment will be offered at 2:30, and all will be welcomed to a postperformance reception in the parish hall as well.

St Rose is at 46 Church Hill Road. The church office may be reached by calling 426-1014.