Newtown Meeting House, Now Wheelchair Accessible, To Swell With Song This Spring

In a gala spring concert on Sunday, May 2, at 2 pm, Newtown Meeting House will be filled with song and celebration as area musicians gather to mark the completion of a wheelchair ramp that has finally made the beautiful, historic building handicapped accessible.

"The Gala Spring Concert is a thank you to the hundreds of area residents whose generosity helped make the wheelchair lift possible," says soprano and voice teacher Pamela J. Hoffman, who is organizing the event. "In particular, our thanks go out to Newtown resident Mary Mitchell, whose initial generous contribution got the handicapped access effort under way."

The concert will also be a celebration of the life of Ms Hoffman's late husband, K. Michael Hoffman, who passed away almost a year ago.

"Music was so much a part of Michael's life," says Ms Hoffman. "He seldom missed a performance by any of my students, and he never missed a concert, recital or show in the Meeting House. Making this lovely space handicapped accessible was a cause near and dear to his heart, and he would be so proud that the dream of so many has now been made real."

The Gala Spring Concert will feature music ranging from opera to musical theater to jazz. Sopranos Gwynne Wittmann, Ann Martindale and Elizabeth Norton, all students of Ms Hoffman, will sing selections from the opera, art song, and American standard repertoire.

Ms Martindale will be joined by her frequent collaborator, the pianist and baritone Richard Busch, to perform selections from Somewhere Cool, their CD of American jazz standards and original compositions by Mr Busch.

Also performing will be two internationally acclaimed concert pianists and Connecticut residents: Margarita Nuller of New Fairfield and Ãric Trudel of Hamden.  Pianists Susan-Anthony Klein and Brianne Chasanoff will accompany the singers.

The Meeting House balcony will be filled with song, as many voices join together in several ensemble numbers, concluding with Amor de mi Alma (Love of My Soul), a favorite of Michael Hoffman.

"The concert is a celebration, a gift and a thank you to all those whose generosity made the wheelchair lift possible," says Ms Hoffman.

Bethel Music Center, which prides itself on being a music educator dedicated to the needs of students and educators of all ages, has also helped Ms Hoffman in coordinating the music needed for the concert.

The concert is free and open to all. No donations will be requested, but reservations are recommended.

For reservations or more information, contact Sherry Paisley at 203-270-8293 or nmh1792@hotmail.com.