The Second United Congregational Church’s Heavenly Concert is Dec. 8. (File Photo)
WESTFIELD-For area residents seeking a sense of calm and reflection during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the UCC Second Congregational Church is offering “A Heavenly Christmas Concert” on Dec. 8.
The hour-long concert, under the direction of Karen Ducharme, begins at 3 p.m. and features the Second Congregational Church Choir and Westfield State University musicians. A Congregational Carol Sing is also part of the festivities,
Ducharme noted that the concert is unique with the students, the variety of music, and the “wonderful reception and gathering” that follows the concert.
“The entire concert as whole, to me, is the highlight,” said Ducharme. “There are so many beautiful musical moments throughout which I hope will bring a sense of calm and reflection to the audience.”
Ducharme, who has served as choir director since 2003, said a Westfield State Sunday was conducted once a year when the Chorale would sing during the church service.
“After putting on my third Christmas concert at the church, I found out that the Interfaith Foundation wanted to help with funding the Westfield State students who participated in the concert,” said Ducharme, adding since she is a music alumni and the administrative assistant to the university’s Music Department, she knew all of the music students.
“When the fall semester starts, I know the instruments I would like to have and then I reach out to those students,” she said.
The Dec. 8 concert will feature violinist Isabelle Smith and violist Amy McGonnigal who are both first year music students. The church choir members are Jay Ducharme, Elizabeth Dion, Gail Hass, Robbie LaPlante, Karen Smith, Doreen Stanuch, and Westfield State students Katrina Bingham-Maas and Christina Luccini. Also, Keegan Davis will open the concert with a solo rendition of “O Holy Night.”
Another highlight of the afternoon gathering will be a performance by the newly formed contemporary Christmas band, 1225.
“This group of four Westfield State students was formed by Sam Masoud, who sings in the choir,” said Ducharme. “He was looking for an opportunity for his acoustic band to perform during the Christmas season and I asked him to play for us.”
The band members of 1225 include John Guptill, Anthony Bohannon and James Briand.
Ducharme said she has had Westfield State students participate in all of the Christmas concerts since the first one with groups including the Night Owls a capella group, a flute choir, a small orchestra, a guitar and flute duo, a trumpet ensemble, trombone quintet, saxophone quartet and a low brass quartet.
“Last year, I featured a jazz quartet which brought in a large crowd,” said Ducharme.
Ducharme added that her husband, Jay Ducharme, who also sings in the choir, wrote a song titled “May All Your Days Be Holidays.”
“I wrote the song for our Christmas album that Karen and I recorded in 2002,” said Jay Ducharme. “I wanted to write about what I felt was the real reason that we love the season so much as we grow older.”
Ducharme said the song “reminds us of when we were children ourselves.”
“The song is a reminiscence of my youth,” he said, adding, “We actually did have a large ice skating rink on the green where I grew up, and it was lit up at night. Few houses were insulated in those days, and all the windows in the neighborhood houses were iced over, diffusing the colorful lights inside.”
While the song is about a time Ducharme said he can’t reclaim, he knows that children now are experiencing similar situations.
“I know that children are making their own memories that they’ll cherish in their old age,” he said, adding, “and that’s the greatest Christmas gift of all.”
Refreshments and “delicious treats” will be served in the Founders’ Room following the concert. Proceeds from a free-will offering will go toward the church organ fund.
For more information on the event, which is sponsored in part by the Westfield State University Foundation, Interfaith Center, call (413) 568-7557. The church is located at 487 Western Ave.
“The message that sits in my heart after putting this all together comes from the song, ‘There’s Still My Joy,’ by Melissa Manchester,” said Ducharme. “One tiny Child can change the world.”
