Local Musicians to Perform at Christmas Celebration

Local performers soprano Elena Teresa Bird and the vocal ensemble Express Male will be featured performers at the third annual Community Creche Christmas Celebration at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 283 James Street in Morristown on Friday, 5 December at 7:30 p. m. and Saturday, 6 December at 8:00 p.m. respectively.

Their performances are part of the three-day event featuring hundreds of nativities from around the world and musical performances by dozens of local musicians. The event, which is free and open to the public, is a unique collaboration of the community. Volunteers lend, design and stage the nativities in the exhibit hall, and all of the musicians, amateurs and professionals alike, donate their time.

“It is rare for music lovers to have an opportunity to listen to musicians of this caliber for free,” Creche music director Marco Vergara noted. “We hope many music lovers will come to their performances.”

The recipient of numerous vocal awards, Morristown resident Ms. Bird was raised in Kenai, Alaska, where she learned to overcome vast distances and icy roads to accomplish her goals as a singer. Equally comfortable in opera, oratorio and art song, Ms. Bird brings her clear voice and energetic character to every stage she graces.

Always pursuing new adventures, Elena recently made her musical theater debut in July 2014 with Light Opera of New Jersey as Miss Dorothy in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Ms. Bird also recently recorded the title role in a new opera, Germaine, with composer Wayne Walters in Morristown, NJ. The public premiere of this opera is currently scheduled for February 2015.

Currently serving as the Co-Minister of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, Ms. Bird has a passion for sacred music, oratorio and art song, and has given recitals in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, and Salzburg. She also loves opera outreach and bringing classical voice to the general public.

Returning for its second appearance at the Celebration, Express Male is a lively, fun-filled sextet with a dazzling repertoire consisting of serious choral pieces, traditional gospel songs, Broadway favorites and a variety of popular tunes. Formed four years ago as an independent vocal ensemble within The Morris Choral Society, Express Male performs at many major Choral Society concerts.

A crowd favorite at last year’s event, the popular sextet has appeared at the United Methodist Church on the Green as part of the Music at Noon Series and featured as guest performers with the Orpheus Men’s Glee Club in Ridgewood, NJ. Members of the groups include John Collins of Raritan, Bud Leppard of Morristown, Chip Wood of Basking Ridge, Albert Perkins of Morris Plains, Wayne Walters of Parsippany who founded the Morris Choral Society forty-two years ago and is still its resident conductor, and Rob Walters of Long Valley. Ken Rapp of Morristown is the accompanist for the group.

Hours for the exhibit are Friday, 5 December 6-8:30 p.m., Saturday, 6 December 4-8:30 p.m., and Sunday, 7 December 2-7 p.m. For the most up-to-date information on the schedule of musical performers visit www.communitycreche.org or www.facebook.com/communitycreche