USA East Music BULLETIN - WINTER 2018/19 - ISSUE 1 | Page 12

MASSACHUSETTS CHRISTMAS
By Matthew Luhn, Divisional Music Director, MA
The Boston Kroc Center was buzzing with
anticipation on Sunday, December 2, 2018.
People from all corners of Massachusetts
entered the building eager to begin to
celebrate the Christmas season by attending
The Sounds of Christmas, a Massachusetts
Divisional Christmas Concert featuring over
100 performers. This being the third annual
concert of its nature, it is wonderful to declare
that a new annual Holiday tradition has been
born in the Massachusetts Division!
The evening started off festively from
the lobby as the Singing Company from
Fitchburg, MA greeted early-arriving concert-
goers. The Divisional Band, Mass Brass, was
seated on stage to begin the program to a
capacity crowd in the Kroc Center’s cozy
chapel. After some words of welcome from
Divisional Music Director B/M Matthew Luhn,
the band was featured several times during
the first half of the concert and delighted
the audience with band selections Christmas
Medley (Phillips), Silent Night (Gates), and
a thrilling and challenging rendition of
Christmas Finale (Lovatt-Cooper). In addition,
the band led the congregation in the singing
of Joy to the World, and Hark! the Herald
Angels Sing.
The first half of the program also featured
spirited performances from the Lawrence
Corps Dance Team and the Youth Arts Ministry
(YAM) Timbrel Brigade. Other highlights
included a piano solo from Christian Tavares
(New Bedford) and a thought-provoking,
well-delivered skit from Camp Wonderland
staff members Christopher Molinaro and
Katie Lugo. The first half concluded with
a mass chorus singing This Kingdom and
I Heard the Bells. The choir included all
seventy members of YAM as well as the entire
divisional band. It was led by S/L Debbie
Bowin and accompanied by Jill Piercey
(Quincy).
After a brief intermission, the audience
was able to relax and enjoy Christmas
jazz selections delivered by special guest
musicians from The Real School of Music in
Andover, MA.
After a brief intermission, the audience
was able to relax and enjoy Christmas
jazz selections delivered by special guest
musicians from The Real School of Music in
Andover, MA.
The second half of the program included
many performers from the divisional Youth
Arts Ministry program. The Worship Team
(Anne Rich), Drama Troupe (Alexus Zuniga/Lt.
Wonni In), and Dance Troupe (Paula Baigorria/
Capt. Sally Warren) all engaged the audience
in a powerful way, and Joshua Norman and
Alexa Davis led the congregation in singing
O Come, O Come Emmanuel. A highlight of
12 • USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN | W I N T E R 2019
the second half was witnessing Joel Piercey
(Quincy) make his conducting debut by
leading the YAM Brass Band through an
arrangement of O Come, All Ye Faithful.
As has also become a Christmas tradition,
Major Margaret Davis delivered a moving and
declarative vocal solo, Breath of Heaven, near
the program’s conclusion. Throughout the
entire evening, scripture had been read and
woven into the program by Teresa Jordan
(DHQ), Jen Forster (Camp Wonderland),
Dustin Richardson (Brockton), Heather
Luhn (Quincy), and Peter Slack (Quincy). Lt.
Enmanuel Villegas (Springfield) wrapped up
these progressive thoughts by delivering a
Christmas devotional that challenged the
audience to seize the opportunity of the
season by allowing Christ into each concert-
goer’s heart.
The Sounds of Christmas concluded
with a final congregational singing of O
Come, All Ye Faithful. Mass Brass provided
the accompaniment and B/M Matthew
Luhn led the congregation in singing as the
YAM Chorus members lined all of the aisles
in the Kroc Center Chapel. It was a fantastic
evening of meaningful Christmas cheer and
anticipation. We’re already looking forward
to The Sounds of Christmas in 2019! ■
W W W. M U S I C . S A CO N N E C T S . O R G