Grammy winner Paul Winter Comes to Massaro Farm

Paul Winter will host a special musical workshop, Adventures in SoundPlay, this Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12, 2016 at Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge. This two-part series, Friday 6:30-10:00pm and again Saturday 8:30-11:30am, seeks to engage music lovers of all ages, no matter what their musical ability, in an affirmative and celebratory workshop to explore creativity and build confidence. This event is intended to be a prelude to a special concert the Paul Winter Consort will give to benefit the Massaro Community Farm centennial campaign at 5:00pm on February 26, 2017 at Church of the Assumption, North Cliff Street in Ansonia.

Winter, a lifelong environmental advocate and seven-time Grammy® winner, has a body of work that chronicles his wide-ranging experiences in the musical traditions and natural environments of the Earth. The saxophonist, composer and bandleader, and his ensemble, the Paul Winter Consort, has generated some of the world’s finest jazz, world, and classical music celebrating the earth, along with notable voices from the great symphony of wildlife.

“Church of the Assumption has the quality of acoustics comparable to some of the most well-known venues I’ve played in throughout the world,” said Winter of his last performance at Assumption Church in April 2015.

The February concert is intended to be a cooperative benefit both to Massaro Community Farm, celebrating 100 years since the Massaro Family arrived in Woodbridge, and the 125th anniversary of the church. The Massaro farm originally spanned both towns of Woodbridge and Ansonia. Several farm neighbors have shared their stories of helping out John and Tony Massaro, brothers who maintained dairy cows and chickens on the farm until their death, with regular help from the community, as neither brother ever married. The farm maintains those community connections by offering farm-based education to Ansonia schools, and donates produce regularly to the Ansonia community.

“We are so incredibly honored to have Paul Winter working with the farm, both in this week’s workshop and for the February concert, “said farm Executive Director Caty Poole. “And being able to offer events like these honors our mission as a community farm – to be a welcome gathering space for all.”

This week’s workshop, Adventures in SoundPlay, is open to everyone, regardless of age or musical experience. Attendees are encouraged to bring a potluck dish to share on Friday evening; drinks and dessert provided. A pancake breakfast, coffee & tea will be served Saturday morning. Attendees should dress in layers, as this workshop will take place in the farm’s restored dairy barn. Tickets are $30/pp and may be purchased online through the farm’s website, www.MassaroFarm.org, or RSVP by calling the farm office at (203) 736-8618. Scholarships available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Massaro Community Farm is a nonprofit certified organic farm in Woodbridge, CT, whose mission is to keep farming, feed people and build community. It works to fulfill this mission by offering a vegetable CSA, running farm-based education for youth and adults, and holding several community wide events each year. The farm maintains a commitment to donate at least 10% of its harvest to local hunger relief agencies, which amounts of have totaled over 41,000 pounds of food since inception in 2010. For more information about the farm, please contact the farm office, or visit our website – www.MassaroFarm.org.