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The 2008 Messiah Sing
It was held on December 28th this year. A smaller crowd than usual, about 60, but very
enthusiastic. Once again our soloists were Suzanne Anderson soprano; Cynthia Sanner, mezzo; Dario Coletta, tenor; Steve Curylo, baritone. Greg Hayes conducted, as he has for seven years now, our ad hoc chorus and orchestra, the Cummington Philharmonia.

Suzanne Anderson singing at the messiah Sing in Cummington

Greg Hayes conducting the chorus in Handels Messiah

Cynthia Sanner singing at the Messiah Sing in Cummington

Dario Coletta singing at the Messiah sing in Cummington

Steve Curylo singing at the Messiah sing in Cummington

The soloists and orchestra for handel's Messiah in Cummington

Greg hayes conducting the messiah by handel

We were blessed again this year, summer 2008, by the visit of the Greenwood Music Camp campers. For five Sundays they gift us with their music, a string quartet, and their voices in anthems and hymns. Then, on their fifth and last Sunday we hear and see them performing a
choral work with the instructors and counselors of the camp as orchestra. It is a rich and
beautiful time for the church.

String quartet from the Greenwood camp performing at the Village Church in Cummington

String quartet from Greenwood at the Village Church

On Sunday mornings the Greenwood campers start church services at the Village Congregational Church when camp is in session

The Greenwood Campers singing Bach's

The Greenwood Chorus performing Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren
Johann Sebastian Bach (Chorale cantata, BWV 137),
accompanied by the "Cummington Philharmonic."

Greenwood Campers singing at the Village Congregational Church

Soloists singing Bach at the Village Church

The view from the balcony and three soloists

Greenwood Campers at Village Congregational Church

Having a stretch in preparation for performing

Greenwood Musicians performing in the barn at the Camp

Gregory hayes conducting the Greenwood Camp in a choral performance

Gregory Hayes conducts the Greenwood Campers in a choral presentation

Oliver hagen conducting the Greenwood Camp orchestra in the overture to "Die Fledermaus"

Oliver Hagen conducts the orchestra in the overture to "Die Fledermaus"

J. Kuerti conducting the Greenwood camp orchestra

Julian Kuerti conducts the orchestra in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

The Messiah Sing at the Village Congregational Church was a big success again this year. It was the 43rd annual sing. Over a hundred people came to sing and listen, and a dozen and a half musicians to play. The soloists were Suzanne Anderson, soprano; Cynthia Sanner, mezzo; Dario Coletta, tenor; Steve Curylo, bass. The event was conducted by the gifted musician and teacher, Gregory Hayes.

Cynthia Sanner at the Messiah Sing in Cummington

Dario Coletta sining at the Messiah Sing in Cummington

Steve Curylo singsat the Messiah Sing in Cummington

Suzanne Anderson sings at the Messiah Sing in Cummington

August 8, 2007 was the day this year that the Greenwood Camp put on their big choral performance at the Village Church. This year they sang selections from Bach's Mass in B Minor. After the performance the Church gave a lunch for the parents of the campers. The campers had their own lunch at the camp.

Singing “Siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos” a favorite hymn from the New Century Hymnal (No. 526) July 29, 2007 with the Greenwood Music Camp campers.

Installation of Liza NealOn May 2oth, we had the installation ceremony for our minister, Reverend Liza Neal.
Once again, ministers from the Hampshire Association came to our church to join in the ceremony.

Liza Neal & Kelly Gallegher

Curt Preston reading the sermon.

Reverend Marilyn Holcomb

On May 6, 2007, the Village Congregational Church was honored to host the Annual Meeting of the Hampshire Association of the Massachusetts UCC. We were also honored to have the new Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference, Rev. Jim Antal, present to give the sermon.

Peter Ives, of Northampton's First Churches;
Rev. Jim Antal; Rev. Liza Neal of the Village Church

Another View

The Delegates from Hampshire Association Churches

The Village Church, through it's Music Committee, sponsors a Messiah sing-along every year on the first Sunday after Christmas. This has been a tradition for 42 years now. We are grateful for those who had the vision to start this sing-along in the 1960's. On December 31, 2006, the Messiah Sing had approximately 130 people in attendance, most singing, some just enjoying the show. The conductor of our pick-up orchestra was Gregory Hayes, who has been leading these sings for the last six years or so. Our soloists were Suzanne Anderson, soprano, Cynthia Sanner, mezzo, Dario Coletta, tenor, and Steve Curylo, baritone.

messiah sing, tenor

Every summer the Village church is host to students from the Greenwood Music Camp. On Sunday mornings we provide an ecumenical service for campers of many faiths, and love and support for their musical talents. In return, they open our service with an instrumental offering and sing us a beautiful anthem. They bring their high spirits and talent to us for five Sundays, and on the fifth Sunday perform a large choral work for the congregation and their parents. This year it was selections from Mozart's Requiem, led by choral director Gregory Hayes and with faculty and counselors in the orchestra.

Greenwood campers come early for rehearsal

Arriving early for rehearsal

string quartet opening the service

A string quartet opening our service.

Our minister, Liza Neal, and congregation singing on Greenwood's last
Sunday of the season, August 6th, 2006.

full church

This is one day when we are really packed

Greenwood Performing Mozart's Requiem

The Greenwood Campers singing selections from Mozart's Requiem,
Sunday August 6, 2006.

Sunday afternoon concert, Beethoven's Sixth Symphony

Here the campers perform Beethoven's Sixth Symphony at the New Barn on the
camp grounds. Sunday afternoon, August 6, 2006.

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