Attention music lovers! This one’s for you! Holiday concerts abound and Messiah lovers should be in their glory. There are several opportunities to both listen and take part in Handel’s beloved oratorio. In between, stop by the Branford Arts Center for its new exhibits and nature lovers – in lieu of a hike in the woods – can take in a talk on “water babies.”
Friday, Dec. 9
Cool Yule Concert
The Friends of Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library present the Thimble Islands Saxophone Quartet in A Cool Yule, songs of good cheer: a concert of traditional Christmas and special holiday music. The concert will take place at the library 146 Thimble Island Road, at 7 p.m. For more information, call 203 – 488-8702.
Saturday, Dec. 10
Annual Cookie Sale
Branford Compassion Club will hold its annual homemade cookie sale on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Feline Rescue and Adoption Facility on 2037 Foxon Road, North Branford. Cookies are $4 a dozen. Stop by for eggnog and sample the cookies. Donations will be accepted for BCC’s Wishing Tree through Dec. 31.
Opening Reception at Branford Art Center
Oil and pastel artist Bev Schirmeier will have her paintings featured in the front gallery and the North Haven Camera Club will have a photography exhibit in the studio gallery at the Branford Art Center, 1229 Main St. Also featured will be the work of Rachel Mathieu, Branford resident and teacher. The opening reception is Saturday, Dec. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m., free with wine and light bites.
For information about other artists, classes, workshops, and more events at BAC, visit www.branfordartcenterct.com, call Yvonne Gordon-Moser at 860 – 334-4642, or email [email protected].
Branford Chorale Concert
The Branford Chorale will present its Vintage Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Branford High School.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children and seniors. They can be purchased at Towne Pharmacy, 1012 Main St., or by calling 203 – 668-5691.
Saturday, Dec 10
Fiddler Bruce Molsky at Branford Folk Society
Bruce Molsky, one of the world’s foremost folk fiddlers, returns to the Branford Folk Music Society on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m. for a concert in the auditorium of the First Congregational Church of Branford, 1009 Main St., on the Branford Green.
He’s a self-described “street kid” from the Bronx who bailed on college and big city life for a cold-water cabin in Virginia in the 1970s. His mission? To soak up the passion that was dramatically upending his parent’s life plan for him – authentic Appalachian mountain music – at the feet of its legendary pioneers, old masters who are now long gone.
Musicologists consider Molsky one of the most influential American folk fiddlers of this generation, not only renowned throughout the world as a master fiddler, but also as a remarkable guitarist, banjo player and vocalist. His high-spirited music melds the archaic mountain sounds of Appalachia, the power of blues and the rhythmic intricacies of traditional African music.
The society will kick off its 2017 schedule on Jan. 14 with dynamic Canadian fiddler and step dancer April Verch.
Admission is $25 for non-members, $20 for members and $5 for children age 12 and under. For more information, call 203 – 488-7715 or access the society’s Web page at www.branfordfolk.org/
Sunday, Dec. 11
Music Makers Holiday Concert
Join the Music Makers at the Blackstone Library, 785 Main St., on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. for an hour-long celebration of the holiday season with a short sing-a-long to follow.
The Music Makers, an elite group of singers chosen from all of the singers in the Branford High School Choral Program, are considered the “musical ambassadors” of both the school and Branford as well. They have performed in England, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland as well as many places in the United States as well including Lincoln Center in New York City as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. They were part of the group that premiered John Rutter’s “Magnificat” in Carnegie Hall in 1990 and sang for Pope John Paul in 1996. The students are socially conscious, and have raised money at their concerts to give to many local charities and organizations both in their town of Branford as well as throughout their state.
Messiah SingAlong
Join the Yale Glee Club and the Yale Symphony Orchestra for the Annual Messiah Sing-In at Battell Chapel, 400 College St., Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1:30 p.m. and sing along to the chorus sections of Handel’s The Messiah. A number of excerpts will be performed from the timeless oratorio. Scores will be available for purchase, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit New Haven’s homeless.
There is a suggested $5 donation. For more info, see the Yale Glee Club website.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
Menunkatuck Audubon: Water Babies
Menunkatuck Audubon Society will present a talk on “Water Babies” at the Blackstone Library, 785 Main St., on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 7 to 8 p.m. by William Burt, naturalist, writer, and photographer with a passion for wild places and elusive birds.
The “babies” are the downy young of ducks, grebes, gallinules and shorebirds, herons, and the other birds of wetlands – those that get their feet wet, as it were – and challenging they are, to birder and photographer alike: quick-footed, wary, and well-camouflaged, to say the least; and temporary (you have only a week or two each year in which to find them). But above all else, they are endearing. Each downy chick is juxtaposed with the adult it will become. To photograph these youngsters and adults, the author prowled their wetland breeding grounds each spring and summer for some seven years, all over North America, from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico.
Burt’s feature stories have appeared in Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and other magazines, and he is the author of three books.
Thursday, Dec. 15
Handel’s Messiah
New Haven Symphony and Christ Church Choir’s performance of Handel’s Messiah will take place Thursday, Dec. 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Woolsey Hall, 500 College St., New Haven. William Boughton is conductor with Jessica Pray, soprano; Allegra De Vita, alto; Lucas van Lierop, tenor; Bryan Murray, bass; and the Christ Church Choir.
Tickets are $15 to $74; college students, $10, and kids 7 to 17 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket. For tickets, go the http://www.newhavensymphony.org.
Sunday, Dec. 18
Branford Community Messiah
The 29th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, Christmas portion, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the First Congregational Church, 1009 Main St. (on the Green).
The concert will be performed by Branford Messiah Community Chorus, professional soloists and orchestra. Roy Wiseman will be conducting. Soloists are Yunnie Park, Krysty Swann, Jorell Williams, and Ed Hull.
A free will offering will be accepted at the concert.
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