Apple Tree Arts' Joyful Holiday Gathering

Enjoy an enchanting afternoon at Apple Tree Arts' eight annual holiday concert featuring traditional Robert Shaw carol arrangements, an Italian madrigal, a Shaker tune, multicultural selections and storytelling. The free concert is part of “Grafton Celebrates the Holidays” event sponsored by the Town of Grafton and its Recreation Commission.

 "Our Community Chorus, faculty members, friends, staff and students will be performing and singing a variety of entertaining music," said, Donna Blanchard, executive director of Apple Tree Arts.

 A few songs The Apple Tree Arts Community Chorus will sing include "Holly and Ivy," "I Saw Three Ships" and "The Wexford Carol," a traditional Irish carol. The 29 members will sing the renaissance song "Fa Una Canzona" by Orazio Vecchi in Italian and "Bidi Bom," a Festival of Lights selection. They have been rehearsing since mid-September for the concert under the direction of Ms. Blanchard.

 Nancy Carlson narrates the children’s tale, “The Christmas Bear” written by Henrietta Strickland. The heartwarming story is about a curious bear that wanders away from home, falls into a hole and ends up in Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.  

Several faculty members contribute to the concert. Russell Jewell, trombone teacher, accompanies the Community Chorus on the “Alleluia Brazilian Psalm” playing the Congo drums and his Pan-American chamber group, “Grupo Mambique” performs one number. Theatre Arts Director Lisa Scarlet directs the Show Choir youth singers performance of the song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” the pop standard  written and first performed by Frank Loesser and his wife Lynn in the 1930s.

 The youth and adult flute ensembles perform “We Three Kings” under the direction of the masterful Linda Bento-Rei, longtime faculty member.