For Santa Claus' schedule, click here


Here is the Entertainment Schedule for the
8th Annual Festival of Trees:

ABOUT OUR PERFORMERS

The East Longmeadow High School Chorus and Select Ensembles
This ensemble, under the direction of Carol Toth, includes students in grades nine through twelve. The ensemble studies a variety of repertoire from madrigals to musicals, doo-wop to pop. The chorus sings several performances throughout the year at the high school, as well as several outside community performances. (Return to top)

Carol Toth has been a choral conductor and public school educator for more than 10 years.  She is currently the high school choral director for East Longmeadow Public Schools. (Return to top)

Kung Fu Academy
The Kung Fu Academy schools offer classes for ages three through adult. A ladies cardio kick class is also available. We have three locations: 551 East St., Chicopee - 594-2560; 869 Memorial Ave., W. Springfield - 746-1375 and 149 North Rd., E. Windsor, CT, 860-627-8764. We are very enthusiastic supporters of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club and have also sponsored a tree for the Festival of Trees for three years. (Return to top)

The Pioneer Valley Fiddlers
The Pioneer Valley Fiddlers is a fiddler’s club dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional fiddle music. The club was formed in 1992 by Chris Keenan. We perform mainly in the northeast fiddle style, including Irish, Scottish, Canadian and other traditional music. We also do an occasional southern, Cajun or Texas style piece. Our members range in age from 4 - 70 years old. All ability levels are represented from beginner to advanced player. Our performance size varies depending on the type of venue. We have played with as few as four players for smaller settings (cocktail hours, weddings, open houses, and 20 players for large stage performances (The Summit House, The Big E, concerts in Western Mass and CT.) We also have musicians that play keyboard, accordion, mandolin, guitar, wash tub, washboard, and spoons. Most of the music we play is associated with early dance music, such as jigs, reels, two-steps, polkas, and waltzes. Someone who heard us described our playing as "happy music." If you don’t feel like jumping out of your chair to start dancing, we are not doing our job! (Return to top)

MaryAnn Studio of Dance
The MaryAnn Studio of Dance is very proud to be celebrating its 52nd season this year under the ownership of Mary Ann Langone, Director. We have supported the Festival of Trees for the last seven years by providing entertainment and also by sponsoring a tree. Our students range in age from toddler through adult. Through the years. the studio has had the pleasure of offering quality dance education to generations of dancers. Moms who danced as children are now bringing their own children to enjoy the thrill of dance. Students from the Mary Ann Studio of Dance are always eager to share the love and joy of dancing with others. (Return to top)

The Step Suzuki Strings Directed by Lani Bortfeld
The STEP Suzuki Strings is a multi-generational group of Suzuki string students, ages five to adult, from Greater Springfield and Northern Connecticut.

The Suzuki Talent Education Partnership (STEP) was founded in September 2002 by Lani Bortfeld with the help of students, parents and the community of Springfield, and is now an outreach program of Faith United Church, 52 Sumner Ave. in Springfield, MA. STEP’s performance ensemble rehearses Wednesday evenings at Faith United and gives three formal concerts a year, in addition to more informal play-ins and outreach performances. STEP is dedicated to using the principles and teachings of renowned Japanese music educator and humanitarian, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, as a basis for its mission of education and outreach to Greater Springfield. Dr. Suzuki believed that every child who could learn to speak could learn to play violin. It is STEP’s vision that students of diverse ages, backgrounds and cultures will thrive by experiencing the joy of making music together using Dr. Suzuki’s teachings.

Through the generosity of the Springfield Suzuki Partnership (the SSP is the STEP family organization), Faith United Church and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, STEP is able to give out need based financial aid to make this vision a reality.

Lani Bortfeld, B.Mus. New England Conservatory, M.Mus. University of Connecticut and director of the STEP Suzuki Strings, is a 27 year member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and has presented at three of its national conferences. Ms. Bortfeld is also a member o the Waterbury (CT) Symphony Orchestra and first violinist with the Arcos/iris Quartet, a Springfield based string quartet, which is on the Education Roster of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. An active freelance musician, she is a member of Local 171 of the American Federation of Musicians and performs in schools, houses of worship, arts festivals, care facilities, libraries and concert halls throughout New England. Ms. Bortfeld received an Artist Fellowship from the Springfield Cultural Council in 1999 and is an artist-teacher on the Creative Teaching Partners roster of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (Return to top)

Amy Mercier
Amy Mercier is a junior at St. Mary’s High School in Westfield, MA. She was a member of the Dan Kane Singers for five years, performing at many area churches and the Annual Christmas Spectacular at the Mass Mutual Center. She continues to pursue her love for music with the support and guidance of her vocal/piano teacher, Janet Ryan.

Amy is a singer, songwriter and pianist and has performed for the past two years throughout the area at various events. She is an active member of the Folk Group of St. Mary’s Parish and devotes her time and support to many area elderly facilities, sharing her love and excitement of music. Recently, she performed at the Massachusetts Building at the Big E and at Barnes and Noble Book Store.

Amy takes great pride in her love for the theater. She has taken part in several productions at her high school and also in the community theater. Her true love is musicals and some of her most memorable performances include Tzeitel from Fiddler on the Roof and Bloody Mary from South Pacific.

She is currently booking events for the Christmas season and early April 2009. For more information on Amy, please go to her website at www.myspace.com/amercier
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Hampshire Regional High School Chorus
Hampshire Regional High School, located in Westhampton, Ma, consists of both a middle school and a high school, grades 7-12. We are a regional school serving five communities; Westhampton, Goshen, Williamsburg, Southampton and Chesterfield.
Some students have a 45 min. bus ride to school, and we are usually one of the first in Western Mass to call a snow day in inclement weather! There are three choruses and four bands in the music department, consisting of M.S. Chorus, M.S. Band, M.S. Jazz Band, H.S. Chorus, H.S. Concert and Jazz Bands. There is also an After School Chorus for high schoolers who are not able to fit chorus into their schedules. Both the Middle School and High School chorus will be performing, as well as the new After School Chorus. Holiday favorites, as well as some of our concert repertoire, will be featured. There will be a special performance by the H.S. boys of "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!"

This will be our third time performing at the Festival of Trees, and we are very proud to help out the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield. (Return to top)

String City
String City is a new string orchestra of advanced students from the Community Music School of Springfield. They have been sponsored largely through the generosity of Babson Capital Management, LLC, in order to encourage higher standards of string playing and involvement in the arts on the part of students who are residents of the city of Springfield. Although rehearsals for this group began just this past September, they have already performed publicly at WNEC as part of the Daniel Pearl Day international day of peace and music. They have also hosted Matt Haimovitz, internationally known cellist in a Master Class.

In the Spring of 2009, they plan to collaborate for a concert with the Springfield Ballroom Dance group and on their own at Community Music School.

Members of String City are really looking forward to appearing at the Festival of Trees and hope to win the tree of their dreams!

Marty Knieriem is the Director of String City.  (Return to top)

Tehillah - A Contemporary Gospel Choir
St. John’s Congregational Church
Tehillah, pronounced Ta-He-Lah, was birthed by the vision of Pastor Wesley in 1999 to compliment the already strong and varied music ministry of St. John’s. Tehillah, a Hebrew word meaning "Praise", is a contemporary Gospel choir dedicated to lifting high the praises of God in song. Under the leadership of Ms. Benita Sharpe, Tehillah grew in size and strength to become the premier choir within St. John’s. With nearly 50 voices and under the direction of Marcus Pitts, Tehillah sings many of the contemporary gospel songs by popular artists, classic favorites, and new original songs composed and arranged by the gifts within St. John’s. Proverbs 18:16 declares that your gift will make room for you and this is truly the experience of Tehillah, whose gifts have opened the door for them to minister all across New England. Tehillah continues to sing the praises of God with power and excellence. (Return to top)
 

Festival runs from November 28th – December 14th, 2008
 

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