The Wrentham Times

KP Spring Pops Concert is May 11th

The 17th annual King Philip Spring Pops Concert will be held on Saturday, May 11th at King Philip Regional High School Field House Rte. 140 (201 Franklin St), Wrentham.

This concert is presented by the King Philip Regional High School music department and the King Philip Music Association.

This year’s theme, “Spring Renaissance". The evening is modeled after the Boston Pops concerts at Symphony Hall with both table and open seating. Patrons can order dinner from a selection of light and refreshing entrees along with appetizers, desserts, snacks and beverages while seated at tables in the field house to be enjoyed while listening to music played and sung by the school’s acclaimed musicians and chorus students.

This year's performances include the MICCA Gold Medal Recipient High School Chorus, Concert Band and Symphony Band along with the Jazz Band.

Tickets may be purchased at the door, which opens at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. concert, and are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

Clean Sweep of Gold Medals for King Philip Music Groups

King Philip Middle School 8th Grade Band.

It was an unprecedented weekend of achievements for many King Philip music groups. Six different performing groups were involved in the Massachusetts Instrumental Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) annual festival held at various sites throughout Massachusetts.

The MICCA festival is designed to promote excellence in musical performance and is held across parts of Massachusetts over 3 days. More than 200 groups from throughout the state participated and medals are awarded to the participating ensembles by a distinguished panel of music educators, who discuss the fine points of each performance with the students. Only 15% are awarded the gold medal for Superior Performance.

The High School Symphony Band, High School Concert Band and High School Chorus all received a gold medal. The Middle School 7th Grade Band and Middle School 8th Grade band also received gold medals, and to perfect the sweep the Middle School Chorus received gold.

MICCA, with the support of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will sponsor its fifteenth annual "Stars at Symphony" gold medal showcase. Ensembles that earn a gold medal rating at the 2013 MICCA Concert and Choral Festivals will be invited to perform at two world class venues; Symphony Hall in Boston on Saturday April 13th, and Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Sunday April 14th.

 

King Philip High School Chorus.

The clarinet section of the KP Symphony Band.

The flute section of the KP Symphony Band.

Wrentham Men's Chorus Seeks New Members

The Wrentham Men’s Chorus is a group of local men who enjoy getting together and singing. The group is currently looking for new members and great singing ability isn't a requirement. It’s all about having fun. The chorus' repertoire includes popular music, show tunes, gospel, country, folk tunes, and old favorites. Wrentham Men's Chorus plans to entertain at an occasional luncheon, church dinners, host sing-alongs, and more.  
 
Wrentham Men's Chorus spring 2013 performance schedule is : 

• Wed., March 20, noon, Original Congregational Church Luncheon
• Sat., April 20, 7 PM, Gospel Concert
• Sat., May 11, 5 PM, OC Church Concert

To learn more about the group visit their Facebook page or contact Ken Graves at 508-384-8084 or at wrenthammenschorus@gmail.com.

Gregorian Chant CD Being Released by Nuns of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey

The Nuns of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey are set to release To Pray In Beauty: Gregorian Chant, Ever Ancient, Ever New, the second album by the Nuns of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey. It follows the release of Christmas in the Cloister. This new album comes with a 20-page booklet, including liner notes about the history of Cistercian chant. Also included are the English translations of the pieces sung in Latin. 

Reportedly, the Cistercian version of the chants presented in this recording have always played an important role in the lives of the Cistercian nuns of Wrentham since the time of its foundation in 1949. In the early years of its history, chant alone was used to provide the musical setting for the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Since English was introduced into the liturgy after Vatican II, the nuns gradually built up a rich repertory of chants in the vernacular, but twice a week they continue to use Gregorian Chant in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as at Vespers on Solemnities. 

To Pray in Beauty is being released through Jade Music and will be available March 26th in stores and for download.

Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey, located in Wrentham, is home to forty-five Cistercian nuns, also known as Trappistines. It is the first monastery of Cistercian Nuns in the United States. This group of religious women have dedicated their lives to prayer and contemplation and live by work of their hands making Trappistine Quality Candy known around the world. 

Saturday Night King Philip Music Association to Hold Annual Winter Pops

The 17th annual King Philip Winter Pops Concert is tonight at King Philip Regional High School Field House, 201 Franklin St (Rte 140), Wrentham.

This concert is presented by the King Philip Regional High School music department and the King Philip Music Association.

This year’s theme is “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and is guaranteed to put everyone in the spirit of the season. The evening is modeled after the Boston Pops concerts at Symphony Hall. Patrons can order old-fashioned comfort food and beverages while seated at tables in the field house to be enjoyed while listening to music played and sung by the school’s acclaimed musicians and chorus students.

The 2012 US Bands Division IV National Champion Marching Band will present their final standstill performance of their fall show, “The Other Side”, for which they received top honors in East Rutherford, NJ. Tickets may be purchased at the door, which opens at 6pm for the 7pm concert, and are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

KP Musicians to Perform at MMEA Festival

Twenty-four members of the King Philip Music Program have been accepted to the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Southeastern District Music Festival that will take place January 11th and 12 at Barnstable High School.  Selection to this prestigious festival is based on each musician auditioning. Eighteen of these students also received an All-State Recommendation.  Auditions for All-State take place on December 15th at Shrewsbury High School.  

Concert Band
Hailey Burke * - Oboe
Daniel Corwin * - Trumpet
Evan CreeGee * - Tuba
Michaela Cunningham - French Horn
Alexandra Ennes - Bassoon
Saraneh Fitzgerald - Flute
Gabriella Geiger * - Clarinet
Marisa Giangregorio * - Clarinet
Courtney Hebert - Clarinet
Teresa Kim * - French Horn
Erin McGuire - Trombone
Kimberly Myers * - Clarinet
Catherine Silvestrie * - Clarinet
Adam Strubeck * - Trumpet
Danielle Swartzendruber - Oboe
Edward Washington * - Trumpet
Benjamin Webster*  - Clarinet
Amanda Young * - Clarinet
Christine Yu * - Trombone

Chorus
Nathan Krishnaswami * - Tenor

Orchestra
Ryan Fess * - Bass
Elizabeth Kaelbling * - French Horn
Emily Sullivan * - Oboe

Jazz Ensemble
Patrick Noonan * - Tenor Saxophone

* = Musicians receiving an All-State Recommendation

KP Marching Band is Best in the Land

Photo by Chris Roman.

The King Philip Regional High School Marching Band, the Pride & the Passion, took home the top title at the US Bands Division 4 Open National Champions, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The band scored a 97.075 to take the title. The band also won Best Music, Best Percussion and Best Effect. 

Earlier this month, the band won the US Bands Division 4 New England States competition in Bridgeport.  The band is comprised of Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville students in grades 8 thru 12.  The band will be performing again for the public during halftime at the King Philip vs. Franklin football game on Thanksgiving Day at King Philip High School and at the King Philip Winter Pops Concert at King Philip High School on December 1st.

Christmas in the Cloister

The Nuns of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey are re-releasing the album Christmas in the Cloister, which combines traditional Gregorian Chant with more recent and popular Christmas Carols. The album, record in 1962 at the Wrentham Abbey features the Midnight Mass, the Lauds Hymn and the Third Mass of Christmas along with all time favorites Silent Night, Il Est Né and In Dulce Jubilo. The album will be released physically and digitally on November 6, 2012. It can be found on iTunes and Amazon.

When Mount Saint Mary’s was founded in 1949, the music for the Eucharist and the Divine Office in the age-long tradition of the Church, was all Gregorian Chant in Latin. However, almost from the beginning, the sisters sang a program of carols before Midnight Mass. The community, which began with thirteen sisters, grew rapidly, and by 1962, there were over sixty members. At the time the sisters were had two mentors: Dom Desroquettes, O.S.B. for chant, and C. Alexander Peloquin, director of music at the cathedral of Providence, Rhode Island, for polyphony. It seemed a good time to make a recording. That was 50 years ago. Since good music has a timeless appeal, and since there is a growing interest in chant, this seemed like a good time to reissue the original record.

Tracklisting

1. Christmas Midnight Mass: Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion
2. Christmas Lauds Hymn: A Solis Ortus Cardine
3. Third Mass of Christmas: Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Communion
4. Susani
5. In Dulce Jubilo
6. Il est Né
7. Silent Night
8. How Far To Bethlehem
9. Coventry Carol
10. While Shepherds
11. Welcome, Son of Mary
12. Lullay, My Liking
13. The Christmas Child
14. Abbey Bells

Fall Classic Marching Band Show Set for October

The King Philip Music Association and the Oliver Ames Music Association proudly announce the annual KP/OA Fall Classic Marching Band show sponsored by USBands on Saturday, October 6th at 6pm at the King Philip High School Main Field, 201 Franklin St. Wrentham, MA. King Philip is excited to be hosting the show again after a two year absence. In addition to King Philip and Oliver Ames, nine bands from across Massachusetts and Rhode Island will be performing at a show that is sure to thrill all.

King Philip will be closing the evening with their show “The Other Side” which features the stirring music of Sergei Prokofiev and Malcolm Arnold. The Other Side tells the story of a man enticed by what he thinks is a better life in another world, but once he gets there he discovers it is not all he thought it would be. His attempts to get back to his original life are met with resistance. 

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

New Open Mic Night

There's a new Open Mic tonight, hosted by Bill Zitomer and Rebecca Ray Zitomer at The Terrace Cafe from 7 to 10 p.m. Musicians are invited to stop by and play a few tunes and music lovers are encourage to stop in and enjoy the local talent and the Terrace Cafe menu.