Tewksbury Singers To Be Featured in "Gloria" Concert on September 7

Tewksbury residents Chip Bliss, Lillian Bean and Donna Haines will be singing Antonio Vivaldi’s setting of the Gloria at Central Congregational Church, UCC in Chelmsford. The concert is on Sunday, September 7 at 7:30 P.M.

CCC Director of Music Frances Burmeister will conduct the chorus and professional chamber orchestra. Tickets are $15; students are free. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the concert.

This is the fifth year of Central Congregational Church, UCC sponsored choral concerts. The soloists are Shelly Clark of Lowell, Susan Navien of Haverhill, Sophia White of Lowell, and Erika Taylor of Chelmsford.

“The Gloria of the mass happens after God forgives us for our sins. The angels burst into a song of praise,” Mrs. Burmeister said. “Vivaldi’s music reflects this energy and is joyful, bubbly, and even ecstatic. I’ve conducted this work many times and love revisiting it. It makes me so happy!”

Antonio Vivaldi (1648 – 1741) was nicknamed the Red Priest. This was not for his political leanings but because he was a priest with bright red hair. He was the music teacher at the Ospedale della Pietà one of the orphanages for girls in Venice. His students studied voice, instruments, music theory, and composition. The nine orphanages competed with each other and proceeds of the concerts supported the orphanages.

“The kids were well educated and sent out into the world with great job skills,” said Mrs. Burmeister. “Vivaldi and his colleagues such Niccola Purpora thrived in the competitive atmosphere and wrote many, many masterpieces.”

Central Congregational Church, UCC is located at 1 Worthen Street in downtown Chelmsford. The lighted church parking lot entrance is on North Road (Route 4) at the foot of Fletcher Street. The church is handicapped accessible.

For more information, please contact Frances Burmeister at: fburmeister@hotmail.com.