One word says it all. Bravo!
This exclamatory accolade fittingly describes the magic of music that echoed throughout the inspiring sanctuary of Wayne Presbyterian Church over last weekend. It was the perfect blend of vocal and instrumental musicianship of the Wayne Oratorio Society, interpretating the scores of two liturgical works written 200 years apart.
Beethoven’s “Mass in C “(completed in 1807) and Will Todd’s “Mass in Blue” (completed in 2003) may seem like a strange pairing, but in the hands and voices of the Society’s members, it became a perfect match of the same theme: praise to God and hope for believers.
Comprised of members of the historic WPC and the community-at-large, the WOS has shared its enthralling sacred music for 75 years with free spring and fall concerts for the public. It is looking forward to celebrating its Diamond Jubilee Anniversary with a world premiere work on November 4th and 5th. More on that in a later column..
A little more about the featured performers that shared standing O’s last weekend:
Conducting the concert by more than 150 singers and instrumentalists was John Grecia, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Chester University. He is director of choral music at St. Joseph’s University, Thomas Jefferson University (East Falls) and St. Mary Episcopal Church in Ardmore. He is the long-time pianist/accompanist for The Crossing, a three-time Grammy Award winning, Philadelphia-based professional choir. He also is a vocalist, songwriter, and featured performer in more than 150 shows/engagements a year.
Featured vocal soloists included lyric soprano Melanie Sarakatsannis, mezzo soprano Raffaella Lo Castro, tenor David Price and bass Mark Hightower.
Melania, who holds musical degrees from the University of Indiana, and has been the soprano soloist at WPC since 1994, has performed major roles in operas and Broadway musical shows throughout the country.
Raffaella, an Italian American born in South Africa, has performed with the WOS since 2019 and has appeared in a wide variety of major roles in her native land, Asia, New York, Washington, DC, and Delaware in addition to the Greater Philadelphia Area. In addition to her performance schedule, she is studying for a master’s degree in organizational management at Eastern University.
David, a Michigan native, is a long-time resident of the Philadelphia area and a chemistry teacher at Upper Dublin High School. He has performed as a soloist with many local organizations including the Philadelphia Singers, in addition to his solo work locally, he has been featured in Europe and in VOX recordings’.
Mark, who was born in Baton Rouge, LA, has spent most of his life in the Philadelphia area, and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Wilmington Mastersingers, the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic, the Lansdale Choristers, and others.
With the greatest respect to all of the above, the magic of the concerts truly belongs to the oratorio choir of local volunteers from all walks of life that sing the words from their hearts and souls. And earn bravos from all that are privileged to hear.
**********
A Sunday open air food market is coming to Berwyn starting May 7. You can thank Stacey Ballard, the reigning, but uncrowned “Baroness of Berwyn” for making it happen.
The dynamic president of Eadeh Enterprises and Berwyn Resident, Stacey, along with Culinary Harvest’s (Wayne-based online market) co-founder Carlo Luciano, has put together an ensemble of food producers that will be showcased at the Bronze Building Plaza in front of Handel’s Ice Cream from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 29.
Berwyn participants in the market are Kim Cuthbert of Sweet Jazmine’s bakery Chrissy Piombino-Bennett, of Studio Flora, and the Buck Buchanan Family of Handel’s Ice Cream. Live music and gourmet food stalls will also be part of the “food expo,” and local charities will receive help from the proceeds.
Artisan cheeses, breads, pasta, produce, poultry, and beef will be included in the weekly fare, and Luciano and his Culinary Harvest partner, Sam Kennedy, both CIA graduates and food devotees, are managing the market.
Bon Appetit, Berwynites!
***********
Shortcuts around town:
Main Line School Night’s “And Action… the Art, Craft and Business of Entertainment” with Brad Ingelsby and Sharon Pinkenson will be held Tuesday, May 2 at the Inn at Villanova U, 601 County Line Rd. beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets from $45 (proceeds benefit MLSN.) Brad is a Main Line native and resident of Berwyn (Remember “Mare of Easttown?”) Sharon is the executive director of the Philadelphia Film Office …. The Ember at Berwyn apartments (250 of them) on the site of the former H H Gregg Furniture at Swedesford Road and Contention Lane is in its final construction phase, and leasing is projected to begin in late summer … Screenwriter Tom Phelan and Jacob Mazer, Director of Programs and Education at Bryn Mawr Film Institute, will lead a discussion there on Monday, May 15 at 7 p.m. about the 1998 cult classic “The Big Lebowski.” For information, please call 610.527.9898,
Finally, nobody asked, but the weekend firings of NBC-Universal’s Jeff Shell, Fox’s Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon prove once again that television is a brutal business behind the onscreen smiling faces.
The Last Word: Good day, good luck, and good news tomorrow!
Comments invited to mainlinebanter@verizon.net.
