Mini-Concerts
Sounds of the season return
By John Liesveld/Tribune staff
Thursday, Nov 22, 2007 - 07:04:35 am CST
Beginning next week, you can follow the scent of hot, spiced apple cider to the Fireside room at First United Methodist Church and sink into a warm, musical holiday reverie.
The church continues its annual Advent Mini Concerts starting at noon Wednesday. The concerts continue at noon each Wednesday during Advent, bringing seasonal music from local performers.
Barbara Johnson, who has been the organist at the church for 41 years, organized the concerts and recruited the talent this year. Each program consists of a brown bag lunch in the in the church’s Fireside room with complimentary hot apple cider and coffee. Then it moves into the sanctuary for the music performances.
"It’s a wonderful, different sort of thing to do during this time of year," Johnson said.
The first performance features the classical vocal music of Tracy Kindler and her Musical Potpourri. Kindler owns Prairie Hearth, a store featuring handmade arts and crafts. Her niece, Sarah, church choir director, Rebecca, and aunt Nancy are all part of the performance and it’s always a fun time, Kindler said. She emphasized the importance of promoting the arts in Fremont.
"It’s a neat thing for Fremont to have because we need to make better use of the talent we have in the area," Kindler said.
"Tracy Kindler is a marvelous artist and always provides something that is entertaining and inspiring. A delight to listen to," said DeMaris Humphrey, a member of the fellowship team at First United Methodist.
The fellowship team sponsors the concerts which are free to the public. The mini concerts started several years ago, the idea of Bob Yanike, who served many years as the Chorale director at Fremont High School. Humphrey said the concerts were Yanike’s way of offering a gift to the public during Christmas.
On Dec. 5, Midland Lutheran College’s Clef Dwellers, a vocalist group directed by Jim Logue, will bring their talent to the lunch hour.
Fremont High School vocal instructor Mark Harman brings the Chorale to the church Dec. 12.
Concerts start at about 12:20 p.m. each Wednesday and last about 30 minutes. Patrons need to bring their own lunch.
Humphrey said the concert schedule will allow people spending their lunch hour downtown to relax and enjoy some music at the same time.
Humphrey said the concerts serve as a kind of respite from the busy schedule of December. It’s a warm and informal setting with quality music and a nice way for people to enhance their Christmas.
