Franciscan Ministries hosts successful fundraiser

Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

The Sunday evening before Christmas was cool and moderately overcast, ideal for the Franciscan Ministries' presentation of a concert, Classical Harmony, in the courtyard of the Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS). With just the sky above the audience, the direct rays of the sun would have proved uncomfortable when the concert began at minutes after 5 o'clock.

Fortunately, however, patrons had the early protection of scattered clouds. They dispersed later in the evening so that, fortuitously, stars were indeed visible by the time the ICHS Glee Club were singing "O Holy Night, the Stars Are Brightly Shining". That hymn, paired by the Glee Club with We Are the World, the pop song made famous by Michael Jackson and company, brought the first half of the programme to an end.

Before that, the audience had been delighted by several other performers with a variety of pieces. The actor-singers Andrew Lawrence and Jodi Ho Lung were both soulful and dramatic in their respective deliveries of In Christ Alone and When a Child is Born, from the former, and Don't Cry for Me Argentina and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, from the latter singer.

With help from "friends," fourth form Campion High School student Kathryn Hoo, an honorary member of the ICHS Symphony Orchestra, performed pieces by Vivaldi, Chopin and William Kroll. Playing along with her were Naomi Reitzen and the ICHS Chamber Ensemble (for the first movement from Vivaldi's Double Violin Concerto in A Minor) and accompanist Allison Wallace (piano) for the Chopin and Kroll compositions.

The light-hearted Kroll piece, Banjo and Fiddle, was especially enjoyable.

Also appearing in the first half of the programme was pianist-composer-arranger Yekengale, with an inspiring version of Emanuel. Yekengale was an excellent 'fit' for the concert, a fund-raising event. He has trained and directed several choirs and instrumentals ensembles, including the University of Technology choir, the Carifolk Singers, and the St Benedict Youth Orchestra, and he assists the musical efforts of several schools and churches.

After the concert's second half opened with the superb singing of The Prayer by Ho Lung and Lawrence, the large stage was jam-packed with the scores of young musicians making up the ICHS Symphony Orchestra and their guests, the Cayman Wind Ensemble.

Of the six items played, three could be categorised as lively, and three as dramatic. The first set comprised Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Air and Caprice (Larry Clark) and Dance Celebration (Robert W. Smith). The dramatic pieces were the first movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony, Wildwood Overture (Aaron David Miller) and the theme from the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean.

As if the stage was not packed enough, the two instrumental groups were then joined by the Glee Club. This amalgamation treated the appreciative audience to the final three items, a medley of Christmas carols, the beautiful Carol of the Bells and Noel Dexter's arrangement of Psalm 150, O Praise Ye The Lord.

The organisers of the concert, Franciscan Ministries, is a non-profit organisation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany at the ICHS. They serve in both the inner-city and in rural areas, promoting community development and care of the environment.