Board of Music

Members: Angela Salcedo (staff), Alison Franklin (chair),
Nancy Leporowski (vice-chair), Marie Balsara, Sharon Conway, Marge Clay, Ted Gandy, Linda Gray, Kati Kennedy, Courtney King, Heather Pulito, Rosemary Richter and Ann Shenk. Our music board helpers provided assistance during our music programs as ushers, money/ticket collectors, and reception hosts. We regretfully accepted the resignations of Florence Torregrossa prior to the start of the year and Ted Gandy during the year.

The Music at the Meetinghouse series offered many different genres of music during the season. We started in September with Opera Express which consisted of a quartet from the Connecticut Opera performing selections in several languages. In December, the Mostly Baroque Players instrumentalists and soloists joined with singers from the Glastonbury community in singing the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. February bought back Paul Bisaccia, pianist, to perform many classic pieces. In March, the New England Chamber Choir provided music celebrating the Lenten and Easter Seasons. In May, we will welcome Virginia and Ken Kousen in concert singing music from the 40’s and 50’s.

We supported music programs not in the Music at the Meetinghouse series. In October, Pipescreams returned to our church for an extra spooky organ concert. This event was a joint effort with the Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Town Center Initiative. Our annual Lessons and Carols took place in December. In March, the Mostly Baroque Players, along with soloists and members of the Chancel Choir sang portions of St. Matthew’s Passion on Good Friday.

We continue to participate in non-musical activities which are part of the life of the church. In September, we ran the moon bounce during the Homecoming picnic. In December, we ran the Cookie Walk portion of the Holly Express. We participated in the Opportunity Fair in January, attended several new member gatherings and hosted a Lenten supper in March. We will participate in Music Celebration Sunday on May 18. We hosted several receptions in honor of the Chancel and Adult Bell Choirs. These were run with assistance from deacons Kathy Ciolkosz and Nancy Higgins.

Music scholarships will be awarded again this year. Applications are being accepted until May 5, with auditions being held late in May. The awards will be given in June and the recipient(s) will provide music to the congregation at times during the next year.

All participants in the music program have been practicing to provide music for Sunday Services. The section leaders for the Chancel Choir: Ginger Kousen (soprano), Josh Taylor (tenor), Lola Elliot-Hugh (alto) and Chris Stone (bass), have added their talents to our program by assisting Angela in teaching music, singing solos, and participating in the quartet. Also, other choir members have participated in the quartet or sung solos during services and in the summer when other choir members take time off.

Our music programs are run by a talented trio of ladies. Peggy Hartman is the interim director of Cherub Choir and she provides accompaniment to the choirs with several instruments. Sue Falotico is the director of both the adult and children’s bell choirs and also provides piano accompaniment. Angela Salcedo is our Director of Music Ministries. She oversees all the music programs and choirs, helps run choir camp, directs the Caroler, Cantate, Cantabile and Chancel Choirs; and plays the organ and/or the piano on Sundays as well as on other occasions.

Respectfully submitted,
Alison Franklin

BOARD OF MUSIC

2009 Ann Shenk
2009 Linda Gray - co-chair
2009 Bob Bolgard
2009 Brian Fisher
2009
2010 Rosemary Richter
2010 Elizabeth Flynn
2010 Courtney King - co-chair
2010 Marge Clay
2010 Katie Kennedy
2011 Lois Vinci
2011 Linda Fraleigh
2011 Bob Hoyt
2011