AUBURN - The holiday may have passed, but the Christmas season was still going strong at St. Mary's Church Sunday afternoon.
Christopher Caskey / The Citizen
Choral group Madrigalia performed Sunday at St. Mary's Church in Auburn.
Choral group Madrigalia performed Sunday at St. Mary's Church in Auburn.
Choral ensemble Madrigalia performed the holiday concert “Celebrate Christmas” at the Auburn church. The event was originally scheduled for Dec. 16, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Despite the change of date, attendees filled the church, which was decorated with a nativity scene and lighted tree, as well as green and red flowers.
The Rev. Frank Lioi, pastor at St. Mary's, said it was appropriate the concert was re-scheduled to Sunday. January 6 is known as the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Traditionally celebrated 12 days after Christmas and sometimes known as “Little Christmas,” the Epiphany is an important part of the season, he said.
“This is Christmas for many people around the world,” Lioi said. “It was kind of a fortuitous calamity for it to be changed to today.”
Based in Rochester, Madrigalia is an 18-member group which performs classical and other vocal music around New York. Fifteen singers performed pieces acapella and with organ accompaniment. William Weinert served as guest conductor because the group's musical director, Roger Wilhelm, was absent for a health-related issue.
The 90-minute program ranged from traditional to modern, with recognizable carols like “Silent Night” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” interspersed with age-old chants and lesser-known interpretations of the season.
“It's neat to listen to the different sounds of the individual voices, but they harmonize together so well as a group,” said Laurie Spencer, of Skaneateles, during a brief intermission. “Even when no music is playing, they sound so amazing. Their voices sound like they are just going up to heaven.”
Spencer heard about the Madrigalia concert when she attended a concert at St. Mary's in December featuring the American Boychoir. She said she wanted to see the concert despite the change of date.
“What I like is hearing quality music right here in the community,” Spencer said.
According to Sally Corcoran, chairperson for the church's cultural arts committee, St. Mary's plans to host more music events in the future. The church is currently organizing a sports-themed raffle to raise money for more concerts, she said.
“It is nice, because I am positive not everyone here is from this church,” Corcoran said before the concert. “We can invite people from all the denominations to come and share music.”
And, Corcoran added, such concerts give parishioners and community members a chance to continue a long tradition that is rooted in churches.
“Music came from the church, after all,” Corcoran said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The Rev. Frank Lioi, pastor at St. Mary's, said it was appropriate the concert was re-scheduled to Sunday. January 6 is known as the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Traditionally celebrated 12 days after Christmas and sometimes known as “Little Christmas,” the Epiphany is an important part of the season, he said.
“This is Christmas for many people around the world,” Lioi said. “It was kind of a fortuitous calamity for it to be changed to today.”
Based in Rochester, Madrigalia is an 18-member group which performs classical and other vocal music around New York. Fifteen singers performed pieces acapella and with organ accompaniment. William Weinert served as guest conductor because the group's musical director, Roger Wilhelm, was absent for a health-related issue.
The 90-minute program ranged from traditional to modern, with recognizable carols like “Silent Night” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” interspersed with age-old chants and lesser-known interpretations of the season.
“It's neat to listen to the different sounds of the individual voices, but they harmonize together so well as a group,” said Laurie Spencer, of Skaneateles, during a brief intermission. “Even when no music is playing, they sound so amazing. Their voices sound like they are just going up to heaven.”
Spencer heard about the Madrigalia concert when she attended a concert at St. Mary's in December featuring the American Boychoir. She said she wanted to see the concert despite the change of date.
“What I like is hearing quality music right here in the community,” Spencer said.
According to Sally Corcoran, chairperson for the church's cultural arts committee, St. Mary's plans to host more music events in the future. The church is currently organizing a sports-themed raffle to raise money for more concerts, she said.
“It is nice, because I am positive not everyone here is from this church,” Corcoran said before the concert. “We can invite people from all the denominations to come and share music.”
And, Corcoran added, such concerts give parishioners and community members a chance to continue a long tradition that is rooted in churches.
“Music came from the church, after all,” Corcoran said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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