Deborah Powell
Deborah Powell
BRISTOL – The audience was treated to a wonderful warm-up for Christmas at the Under the Pines fundraising dinner and concert, December 21 at the Norway Bay Golf course. The musical menu was filled by local bass-baritone Phillip Holmes (left), tenor Dillon Parmer (right), and soprano Marya Woyiwada (center). Internationally acclaimed pianist, Jean Desmarais, accompanied the singers on keyboard.
The fundraiser was to help offset the $6,000 deficit run up when audience numbers fell short of targets last summer. “Large orchestras and choruses are expensive,” said Holmes, primary organizer for the Under the Pines concert series, referring to the two magnificent concerts performed at St. Mary’s Church in Quyon in 2013. “We sold around 100 tickets for each when we had the capacity for an audience of 300,” he continued.
Plans or the 2014 season are well underway with concerts scheduled for July 18th – 27th. “We will have fewer concerts in the series but the quality will remain world-class,” promised Holmes, adding that the budget will be reduced to avoid further deficits.
