Mt. Zion plans Cornelius Concert Series
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church is helping ring in the holiday season with its annual “Cornelius Concert Series.”
“This series has been going on for the past five years, and has been very successful,” said the church’s musical director, Macy Mittelstadt. “It’s open to the public and they’re all free.”
The first concert, on Dec. 3, showcases the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus at 7 p.m. The choir is made up of 60 members from the local area and performs twice a year, during Christmas and in the spring. They will perform some American traditional carols, as well as international ones.
The part of the series that Mittelstadt is most involved in is the Dec. 16 performance, titled “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.”
“It’s a full service with a prelude and biddings,” she said. “It’s fashioned after a traditional English service.”
The lessons are based on Bible scriptures and following each one is a carol, performed by the church’s choir, their bell ensemble and Brass Act, a quintet from Charlotte, she said.
The Dec. 16 concert will be put on twice, at 3 and 7 p.m.
“It was so packed last year, that we wanted to make sure everyone got in this time,” said Mittelstadt. “We’re hoping some of our older residents can make it to the earlier performance, if they prefer, and then everyone else can come to the later one.”
As for the songs that patrons will hear, she said the line-up is mostly traditional.
“There will be some no one has ever heard before, and some will be more familiar,” she added.
Mittelstadt said finding a reason why people should see the concert series was easy.
“Mt Zion United Methodist has a strong reputation for quality music and a very positive reputation in the community,” she said.
Some of the other performances next year include Brass Act conducting their own concert on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., pianist Katie Reimer on May 18 at 3 p.m. and on June 1, singer Lauren Jones will take the stage at 3 p.m.
By Megan Sprague
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