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Members of Concinnity, the local select women’s vocal ensemble believe that “In our changing climate, politically and otherwise, it is important for everyone to stand up for peace, justice, and love.” They have chosen to make their voices heard by means of a concert entitled Visions of Hope.
The program will consist of songs about our environment, social justice, equality, peace, and love, and will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 7111 State Route 104 West, Oswego, on Sunday, June 11 at 3:00 pm. Many community members will be joining in this concert, with many age groups participating.
Con Brio, the select choral group from Oswego Middle School under the direction of Paul Brewster, will perform a song called I Am but a Small Voice, and a fun tune, Peace on Earth . . . and Lots of Little Crickets, in which Concinnity will join them.
The concert will also include the Harborfest Alumni Musical Singers, younger adults who have been involved in the children’s musicals presented during annual Harborfest celebrations. This group will sing There Is So Much Work for Love to Do, and an arrangement of John Lennon’s immortal, Imagine. Bobbie Palange and Rocky Farden, directors of the Harborfest musicals, will conduct the singers.
Area singer and songwriter Maria Gillard will perform with Concinnity in her original composition We Are the Peacekeepers.
Kindred Spirits, a group of more than 65 community women, from the region, including Geneva, Rochester, Fair Haven, and Syracuse, will sing I Once Had a Dream, Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, and Put a Little Love in Your Heart. They have volunteered their time to join in this positive and thoughtful celebration of hope.
Concinnity’s contributions will range from the Joni Mitchell tune Big Yellow Taxi, to a composition called Remember the Ladies that uses the text from a letter sent to American founding father John Adams by his wife, Abigail, encouraging him to remember the ladies when drafting our Constitution.
As a culmination of the Visions of Hope concert, all the groups will join together for Where Have All the Flowers Gone? and the finale, with audience participation, Let There Be Peace on Earth.
Concinniti conductor Mary Lou Carpenter-Bjorkman wonders, “Can anyone really argue with peace and love? Come join us for a Sunday afternoon filled with uplifting and inspirational music to soothe the soul and the ears.” There will be no admission charge, but a free will offering will be invited.
