Messiah Sing-Along

St. James Episcopal Church will host the 7th annual community-wide "Messiah Sing-Along" on Sunday, December 27th, at 3:00 p.m, directed by Stephen Spinelli.   Singers of all levels and abilities are invited to participate in the informal sing-along which will include the Advent and Christmas section of Handel's choral masterpiece, as well as the Hallelujah Chorus.   There will be several soloists,  including Katie Beck, Patti Cody, Mark Madison and Rev. Scott Neal.  The chorus/audience will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra comprised of very talented local musicians.
 
Even if you don't know the whole piece but want to sing or hum during your favorite part, we'd love to have you.  Just show up and bring your voice, enthusiasm and holiday spirit!
 
A limited number of copies of the score will be available to singers, and those who have their own copy are encouraged to bring it. Light refreshments will be served in the church hall following the event . Please join us!
 
St. James Episcopal is located on the village green on Historic Route 7A near the intersection of Rt 313 West, in the center of Arlington, Vermont.  For directions or additional information, call the parish office at 802 375-9952
 

Katie Beck, Soprano, is an undergraduate vocal performance and music education major at the Crane School of Music of the State University of New York at Potsdam.  A Bennington native, Katie performed countless times at Mount Anthony Union High School, various sports events, with Bennington Children's Chorus, at Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales church, with the Battenkill Chorale, in opera scenes with Sage City Symphony Orchestra, the Park McCullough May Music Fest and more.  During her freshman year at the Crane School of Music, Katie played the role of L'Aurora in Crane's opera production of L'Egisto by Francesco Cavalli.  Katie has been most privileged to study with Kerry Ryer-Parke of Williams College for many years, and is now also studying with Dr. Deborah Massell of the Crane School of Music.

Kerry Ryer-Parke, Soprano, is known as a skilled and intuitive performer of many musical styles, from oratorio, opera, early music and new works to jazz and beyond. She has been the Director of the Bennington Children's Chorus since 1994. An Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Williams College since 2001, she has been on the faculty of the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, the New School of Music, and the Sonatina School of Music. A frequent soprano soloist, she has appeared with the Foundation for Baroque Music, Adirondack Baroque Players, Cantata Singers, Williams Chamber Players, Sage City Symphony, Skidmore College Choirs, Williams College Choirs, Williamstown Early Music, Northern Berkshire Chorale, The New Opera, Aoede Consort, Battenkill Chorale, Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, The Danbury Symphony, and the Bennington County Choral Society. 

Patti Cody, Alto, majored in Voice with minors in piano and education.  She began singing and playing the piano at an early age, and decided she wanted to be a Music Teacher early on.  She started teaching music in Michigan in 1976, and has taught general music, directed choral groups, and taught voice and piano lessons in MI, WI, ME, and VT. The past 20 years she has taught in Arlington, where she teaches pre-K through 7th grade general music, elementary, middle school and high school chorus, and directs several school musicals each year.  She takes Middle and High School students to the District and All State Music Festivals, and is involved in the Southern Vermont Music District, the Vermont State, New England, and National Music Teachers Associations.  She sings in her church choir, and does solo work for weddings and funerals.  Music is Patti's passion, and it shows in everything she does.

Fr. Scott Neal, Tenor, was raised in the Episcopal Church, where he served at the altar as an acolyte, chalice administrator, and Eucharistic minister.  He also served as his church choir director for 24 years.  At age 46, he headed off to The General Theological Seminary, in New York City, unable to resist God's call to priesthood any longer.  Scott and his wife Beth raised their two girls in Northfield. After his graduation from seminary in May 2007, Scott accepted the position of rector at St. James, in December of that year. Scott and Beth reside in the rectory adjacent to St. James.  In between his other duties as rector of St. James, Scott still manages to find time to serve as our interim choir director, and also to see with local choral groups during the
holiday season.

Mark Madison, Bass, is a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and has sung with the Bennington County Choral Society and the Battenkill Chorale. He also sang the role of the Father in Hansel & Gretel with the Opera Theatre of Weston. Currently he sings primarily for the
First Congregational Church Choir in Manchester. When he’s not singing, Mark serves as the owner/operator of Madison Computer Services, offering help and computer support for PC users in the area.

Stephen Spinelli, Director, holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Williams College, where he studied piano with Doris Stevenson and voice with Kerry Ryer-Parke. He has a Master of Music in choral conducting from Temple University, where he studied conducting with Alan Harler and voice with William Stone.  He is the conducting apprentice and a core tenor for the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, and a tenor section leader at Old Christ Church in Philadelphia. He is also the conductor of the choir at Philadelphia University, and was recently appointed to the adjunct choral faculty at Moravian College, where he will prepare a performance of the Mozart Requiem with professional orchestra and soloists during the spring.