Tag Archives: Seaglass Performing Arts

Seaglass Performing Arts Announces Holiday Program

Music, Stage - all,

Seaglass Performing Arts Presents

 “On Earth, Peace”

This Holiday Season

As part of the Christmas Prelude program in Kennebunkport, Maine, Seaglass Performing Arts Chorale will be performing a program of music ranging from Gospel Spirituals to Mozart’s Magnificat in C Major. 

This heartfelt expression through music of the desire for Peace on Earth this holiday  season will be performed at South Congregational Church, Temple Street, Kennebunkport, Maine on Saturday December 7 at 7:00 PM, and at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 66 North Ave., Sanford on Sunday December 8, 3 PM.

Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and for students ages 12 to 18. Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for everyone ages 12 and up. Children under 12 will be admitted free of charge.

Tickets available online CLICK HERE, at Morse Hardware in Wells, and at the door (cash only at the door).

Dates and locations 

Saturday December 7, 7 PM

South Congregational Church, Temple Street, Kennebunkport, Maine, 04046

Sunday December 8, 3 PM

Holy Family Catholic Church, 66 North Ave., Sanford, Maine, 04073

About Seaglass

Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Jean Strazdes, the Seaglass Chorale is a non-auditioned adult choral group of 50-60 voices that has established itself as a voice to be heard! The chorale represents some 20 southern Maine communities and regularly performs throughout the area, with concerts in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Sanford, Saco, and other regional venues. We are well supported by our longtime accompanist, Kimberly Karchenes.

Internationally acclaimed, Seaglass Chorale has traveled to Europe twice, performing in Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, and Budapest. In September of 2004, choristers proudly led the musical prelude at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

The uniqueness of Seaglass events stems not only from the quality of its performances and the generous response of the community, but from its demonstrated connectivity to the community through its benefit concerts. Benefiting organizations include Habitat for Humanity, St. Thomas School in Sanford, the Sanford/Springvale Food Pantry, York County Shelters, Wells Historical Society, Noble High School, Child Abuse Prevention Council, and many others.

The chorale is often called upon in celebration of such diverse community events as the Nasson College Community Center dedication, Franciscan Monastery Anniversary, Laudholm Farms Building Inaugural, Holy Family Church (Sanford) Jubilee, and the Sanford Mainers baseball team playoffs.

In short, no other regional group integrates more fully in its diversity of intended audiences, music, events, and venues – always with its mission focus of performance opportunities through community service.

 

A Wassail Festival

Theatre Announcements

Seaglass Performing Arts 25th Anniversary Season Winter Concerts 

Saturday, December 1, 2018
South Congregational Church, Kennebunkport, Maine 7:00 pm 

Sunday, December 2, 2108 Holy Parish Church, Sanford, Maine 3:00 pm 

Seaglass Chorale’s 25th anniversary concert season will begin with its first of two performances of “A Wassail Festival” on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport at 7:00 pm. The concert is a musical feast celebrating twenty-five years of Seaglass. A second performance will take place on Sunday, December 3rd, at Holy Parish Church in Sanford at 3:00 pm. 

Tickets may be purchased on line at seaglassperformingarts.org (go to “Concerts and Events” and use your credit card), at Morse Hardware on Post Road in Wells (see Sally Morse), or from any Seaglass Chorale member. 

Seaglass Performing Arts Announces Spring Concert

Theatre Announcements

Seaglass Performing Arts 

Presents

Happy Birthday Lenny!

Seaglass Chorale, under the direction of Jean Strazdes, Artistic Director, will present a tribute to Leonard Bernstein in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday (1918- 2018). Performances will include selections from West Side Story, Wonderful Town, Candide and others. 

Concerts will take place on Saturday, June 2nd, at 7:00 pm at Christ Church in Kennebunk and Sunday, June 3rd, at 3:00 pm at Wells High School in Wells. 

Tickets are available through Seaglass [at] gwi [dot] net; via phone at 207.985.8747; and at Morse Hardware on Post Road in Wells. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices: $15/adult; $12/senior and student 

Seaglass Performing Arts Announces Palm Sunday Concert

Music

Seaglass Performing Arts

Under the direction of Jean Strazdes, Presents
“An Afternoon of Sacred Music by Fauré, Lauridsen and Bernstein”

Kennebunk, Maine

Seaglass Chorale, under the direction of Jean Strazdes, Artistic Director, will present selections from Bernstein’s Missa Brevis; Fauré’s Requiem and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna. In addition, there will be a performance of Bernstein’s Simple Song from the Mass by Ms. Strazdes.

One Performance Only: Palm Sunday Sunday, March 25, 2018
Christ Church
6 Dane Street

Kennebunk, Maine 3:00 pm

Tickets are available through Seaglass [at] gwi [dot] net, phone at 207.985.8747, and at Morse Hardware on Post Road in Wells. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices: $15/adult; $12/senior and student

Seaglass Performing Arts Brings Joyful Music And Dance To Christmas Prelude Week

Music

Seaglass Chorale
“A Joyous Celtic Celebration”
December 2, South Congregational Church, Kennebunkport
December 3, Holy Family Church, Sanford, Maine

Reviewed by Bobby Franklin

It was a lovely two days of Celtic music and dance in Kennebunkport and Sanford, Maine as the Seaglass Chorale welcomed the Christmas Season with a beautiful program of music and dance.

Led by Artistic Director Jean Strazdes, the group has shown they are able to continue raising the bar with the passing of each year. This past summer the chorale visited Ireland where they performed and it appears they brought some Celtic magic back with them.

The lovely voices were accompanied by Kim Karchenes on piano, Mary Carol Kennedy on flute, Dianne Smallidge and Stephanie Sanders on percussion, and Robert Daigle on bass.

The program which opened with “Riversong: A Celtic Celebration” was lively and touching and continued with a number of beautiful Celtic songs. These included “Gartan Mother’s Lullaby”, sung  a cappella, a tune that touches on fairies in Irish mythology, “Oikan Ayns Bethlehem” from the Isle of Man, and the lively and fun “The Little Beggarman” about Johnny Dhu who worked hard at not working at all.

The first part of the program also had the beautiful “In The Bleak Midwinter” with words by Christina Rossetti. This has always been one of my favorites and I was not disappointed by this performance.

Alex Pratt recited the Kenneth Patchen poem “The Snow Is Deep On The Ground”. Written during WW II it is a moving piece that reminds us to have hope at all times. Mr. Pratt’s rich voice made this recitation simply wonderful to hear.

Stillson School Step Dancers

After intermission, there was a special surprise. The Seaglass Chorale was joined by step dancers from the Stillson School of Irish Dance. The Stillson School is the only accredited Irish Dance school in the state of Maine. This was truly a treat and the young ladies who performed were simply outstanding. Under the direction of Carlene Moran Stillson these world class dancers who have won numerous competitions  thrilled the audience. Having them join with the chorale was a lovely touch.

The program closed out with the ancient Celtic carol “Stars of Glory”, followed by “Shule Aroon”,  Ola Gjeilo’s “The Ground”, and a “Celtic Silent Night”. All beautiful music but made that much lovelier by the voices of Seaglass. A friend described the evening as “Fine threads on a woven tapestry.” That is a perfect description.

Of course, what would a Seaglass Christmas concert be without a sing-a-long? Ms Strazdes finished the evening by turning to and directing the audience in a medley of Christmas Carols. It was the perfect finish to a wonderful evening.

If you have not yet attended a Seaglass Performing Arts concert I would strongly urge you to do so.

“A Joyous Celtic Celebration” certainly left all who experienced it with enough Christmas Spirit to last them until next year. Just wonderful!

 Seaglass Performing Arts Presents 2017 Holiday Concert: A Joyous Celtic Celebration

Music, Theatre Announcements

Seaglass Performing Arts, under the direction of Jean Strazdes, is pleased to announce its 2017 Holiday Concert: A Joyous Celtic Celebration.

The Chorale had the honor of participating in an exciting Choral Festival in Dublin, Ireland this summer. Choruses from around the United States joined together in song and raised money for the Hospice of Ireland. In “A Joyous Celtic Celebration,” the Chorale will continue the musical flavor of Ireland. The chorus will be joined by dancers from the Stilton School of Irish Dance in Gorham and the concert will include a sing-a-long of familiar holiday songs.

The concert will be part of Kennebunkport’s Prelude Week on December 2nd with a second performance at Holy Family Parish Church in Sanford the afternoon of December 3rd. Saturday, December 2, 2017 South Congregational Church Kennebunkport 7:00 pm Sunday, December 3, 2017 Holy Family Parish 66 North Avenue Sanford 3:00 pm.

Tickets are available through seaglass [at] gwi [dot] net or via phone at 207.985.8747; and at Morse Hardware on Post Road in Wells. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices: $15/adult; $12/senior and student In support of the local area food banks, Seaglass is requesting your kind donation of non-perishable food items. Thank you for your generosity during this holiday season.
seaglassperformingarts.org

 

Seaglass Performing Arts Ends Season On A High Note

Art, Theater Reviews, , , , , ,

An Evening of Spirituals and Heavenly Broadway

Performed May 6th at Christ Church
Kennebunk
May 7th at Wells High School Performing Arts Center
Wells

Reviewed by Bobby Franklin

Artistic Director Jean Strazdes has once again raised the bar for the wonderful Seaglass Performing Arts Chorale. Closing out the 2016-2017 Season with a program comprised of spirituals that not only contained traditional music but also included tunes from Broadway, Leonard Cohen, and Carly Simon. It was an exciting and interesting mix that worked so well together.

I took in the Sunday performance at Wells High School, and from the opening number, a medley from Sister Act, the audience knew they were in for an afternoon of wonderful music.

When Seaglass performs you not only get to enjoy the music, but Ms Strazdes also gives background into each song along with short biographies of the composers as well as a brief musical history. For instance, I never knew November 29th was Moses Hogan Day, a day to celebrate and perform spirituals in honor of the composer Moses Hogan. For this concert the group performed one of his arrangements, Music Down In My Soul. Mr. Hogan certainly deserves to be remembered.

Other spirituals included Unclouded Day, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, My Lord What A Morning, and Down In The River To Pray.

Joe would have been happy with this rendition as the group hit it out of the park.

In addition to the selection from Sister Act, Broadway was represented by Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls. Eric Mihan led this song and had the crowd smiling as he moved about the stage. Jean Stradzes read from an original opening night review of the play that compared it with the professionalism of Joe DiMagio. I think Joltin’ Joe would have been happy with this rendition as the group hit it out of the park.

The second act opened with a medley of Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet and the Carly Simon song Let The River Run. Accompanied by a double bass played by Bob Daigle as well as percussion by MaryCarol Kennedy, Stephanie Sanders, and Dianne Smallidge. All were fabulous.

The second act was strong on Broadway tunes with a spiritual flavor. These included Seasons of Love from Rent, Somewhere from West Side Story, and Make Them Hear You from Ragtime. Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah with soloist Marilyn Stanley was sublime.

Kim Karchenes accompanied on piano and never missed a note. All of the voices were just beautiful. Seagalss Performing Arts is made up of volunteers, but make no mistake, this is no amateur group. They are all serious musicians who take their art seriously. They work hard so we can enjoy this beautiful music and learn about the rich history behind it. If you haven’t attended a performance yet I urge you to take in the next season. You will be enriched by having done so.

www.seaglassperformingarts.org