From the Choir Director
As support for the choir's trip to England this summer rolls in, the excitement (and approaching reality!) of this journey is palpable around All Saints. Perhaps you were yourself the beneficiary of one of the choir's trips abroad, or to the New York World's Fair, or even just to combine with another choir or singing at another church. The horizonbroadening, educational experience of travel is one that cannot be underestimated. Since the last Alumni Newsletter before Christmas, with its special appeal, we have received support for the choir tour from four alumni. Are there more of you out there who would help one of our current boys to make this journey? We would love to hear from you before our main bills come due in late April. Of a trip budget of just over $200,000, we have raised about $135,000 as of this writing and hope not to have to pass the rest of the burden to the choir families, some of whom simply cannot afford the trip without significant aid. Since the last newsletter we have also had visits to our Worcester from distinguished choirmasters Barry Rose and Adrian Lucas from England...both of whom will be conducting us in services and concerts while we are across the pond August 520. You can read press articles about both their visits on the "Choir Tour Info" page of the church's website, www.allsaintsw.org. In fact, we have been receiving lots of good press lately... for our appearance in a benefit concert to help raise money for Abby's House (a shelter for homeless children and families), for our journey to England as ambassadors, and for our singing at Mechanics Hall...a large picture of four of our choristers was on the very front page of the Telegram & Gazette on Christmas Eve. This has all reached the attention of our Mayor, who has interviewed me and our new Rector for a halfhour television show. Whether you are coming to the reunion in June, or just catching up on our activities from the comfort of an armchair, you will be proud of the work the choir is doing today.
Our new Rector, Kevin Bean, comes from St Bartholomew's Church in New York City where he gave enormous support to the boy and girl chorister program, guiding the formation of the new VOICE Charter School (with alumnus Gordon Clem as a board member). His installation service will be held at All Saints on Wednesday, April 30, with plenty of music befitting the occasion and the joyous new chapter unfolding at Irving and Pleasant Streets.
Faithfully yours, Peter Stoltzfus Berton
More "Post Its" Reunion Info:
WHERE do you find Indian Meadows? Coming from Worcester, follow Rt 9 east. For about 9 miles. Across from BJ's on your right, there is a break in the median island and a traffic light by Indian Meadows' driveway (on your left), behind Glick Nissan.
Dress for Sunday service is short sleeved, opennecked white shirts and dark slacks. Oh, yes, dark shoes would be a nice touch!
Wait until you hear how much the choir has improved since the last reunion! On a few occasions,
Pat Ton has remarked how much it sounds like the old days. I agree!
Any questions?
Call me at (508) 8356426 or email me at:
agcondo@msn.com See you soon!
LAST NOTICE!
SEND IN YOUR RESERVATIONS FOR RUNION BY MAY1.