Saturday, December 17, 2016

Tidings of Comfort and Joy Concert This Sunday

The Tidings of Comfort and Joy Concert will take place this Sunday December 18th, 2016 at  7:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, Pottsville. 

The event promises to be an evening of traditional sacred Christmas music. 

The concert will benefit First Churches Mercy Ministry which helps benefit those less fortunate in the Greater Pottsville Area. 

The Mercy Ministry runs soup kitchens, helps with shelter and clothing for those in need. 

The concert will include vocalist Samantha Wood and organist Mark O'Hearn from Schuylkill County..

Samantha Wood, soprano, is a native of Pottsville. She currently resides in the Dallas-Fortworth metroplex as she is a teaching fellow and a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas. Samantha is a performer of many genres of music including classical, opera, musical theatre, and sacred music. She has garnered many leading roles in opera performances across the United States and abroad. 

Most recently she has been lauded as the 2016 winner of the UNT Concerto competition and has since had the distinct honor of performing regularly as a soloist with the UNT Symphony Orchestra. 

Past recognition include 2014 winner of the David Daniels Concerto Competition in Detroit, and the Matilda Doge Wilson Award for outstanding vocal excellence at Oakland University, where she received her master of music degree. When at home in Pottsville, Samantha frequently lends her talents to perform at Trinity Lutheran Church, her home congregation, and at the Majestic Theater. 

In the past she has been a voice teacher and vocal coach for students of Pottsville Area School District and has had the pleasure of music directing RENT the musical at the Majestic Theater in Pottsville. 

Mark O'Hearn, Organist, is a native of Ashland. Mark currently resides in Ashland and is pushing a bachelor of science degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University Schuylkill Campus. 

Mark has been involved in music since an early age. Mark has studied with piano pedagogy with the late Tina Dixon of for 10 years. 

Mark currently studies vocal pedagogy with Tamara Wapinsky Mancini. Mark is Organist and Choir Master of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harrisburg Pennsylvania since 2013. Mark is also associate Organist for St. Margret Mary Alacqoue Church in Harrisburg as well as Divine Redeemer Mount Carmel Pennsylvania. 

Mark is also the founder and former director of the Ringtown Area Community Chorus since 2012 a 35 voice choir. Mark is a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church in Ashland.

Daniel Heim from the Gabriel Youth Ensemble who will also play the Violin, Ronald Zuby past music teacher of St. Clair School District who will play the trumpet. Michael Ryan will play the Orchestral Bells and Mr. Robert Nowak head of the Percussion Department at Lebanon Valley College in Annville Pennsylvania who will be playing the Timpani .

Highlight songs Concert will open with a thrilling arrangement by Mack Wilberg of the traditional carol "O Come All Ye Faithful" A meditative Pietro Yon "Gesu Bambino" The holiday favorite Adolph Adams "O Holy Night" and the concert will end with a thrilling arrangement of Joy to the World by Frank Kuykendall.

"We hope that this concert brightens everyone's spirits and brings a sense of joy and anticipation for the coming of the Christ Child. This concert is to celebrate the most important day in the christian calendar which is our light and salvation coming into the world." said O'Hearn.