Up & Coming Weekly

November 29, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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12 UCW NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 'Messiah' helps locals start Christmas season by KATRINA WILSON Cumberland Choral Arts and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra are set to perform "Messiah" on Dec. 10 at Berean Baptist Church. "Messiah" is George Frideric Handel's classical piece famous for its "Hallelujah" chorus. According to Dr. Michael Martin, artistic direc- tor of the CCA, it is broken up into three parts: the coming of Jesus, the passion story, and the death and resurrection. Typically at Christmas, people perform the first part because it is about the birth of Jesus. However, while popular around Christmas, the chorus "Hallelujah" is not from the first part. It is borrowed from the second part of the work. He said a lot of the singers return to the show every year and a large core of the choir knows the material, but newcomers learn it a little bit faster because of this. "I think everybody in Fayetteville has things they love to do that kick off their season. I'm also the Di- rector of Choral Activities at Methodist University," Martin said. "We do a Yuletide Feaste madrigal din- ner every year. Some people come to that and attend 'Messiah' to start their holiday seasons. I'm thrilled to be associated with people's holiday plans." Martin said locals say this show gets them in the holiday mood. He thinks it is because there is a magical component to hearing a live chorus and symphony orchestra that enhances the start of the holiday season, instead of hearing just recordings. "We're pretty lucky in Fayetteville to have a full symphony orchestra and have a symphonic choir like the Cumberland Choral Arts," Martin said. "I'm thrilled these organizations are willing to give this gift to the citizens of Fayetteville so that we can be a community at Christmastime." He said that once a performer has been in a choral organization that sings "Messiah," performers typi- cally don't forget it. Each year they do set aside a place in the audience for those in attendance who would like to sing with the choir. People usually inform Martin they will do this in advance. "It is something we got away from doing. But if we have interested people, we try to accommodate them," he said. Some attendees wear Victorian attire to the show, Martin said, but the choir wears attire for a formal concert. One of their members is Brenda Vandervort- Mill- er. She is the Mezzo Soprano for this year. Originally from Newburgh, New York, she went to Methodist University from 1995-2000. e choral director of the school at the time, Alan Porter, was the founder of the organization and named them Cumberland Oratorio Singers. As a music student, she went to their concerts as part of their curriculum. After graduation, she left Fayetteville. Eight years later she came back and saw the organization was thriving and learned it was not too late to join. Vandervort- Miller has now been with the group for 13 years. "Messiah for me is tradition," she said. "I have been performing 'Messiah' for about 22 years as a soloist and choir member. Christmas season is not complete without it." She added, "Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is co-sponsoring this event and it has been really nice to join forces." e show is Dec. 10 at Berean Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m. e address is 517 Glensford Drive. HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. COVER Cumberland Choral Arts and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra will perform Handel's "Messiah" on Dec. 10. (Photos courtesy CCA and FSO) Soloist Brenda Vandervort-Miller KATRINA WILSON, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200 HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Holiday Lights shine at the Botanical Garden by HANNAH LEE e Cape Fear Botanical Garden is beautiful any time of the year, but during December, it's lit. e 12th Annual Holiday Lights at the Garden is coming up and has become a tradi- tion for many families. Not only will the garden have lights throughout, but it's a great addition for any family celebrating Christmas. is annual event has become a staple for the Gardens. "Not only is Holiday Lights at the Garden one of the primary ways guests have the opportunity to experi- ence the Garden for the first time, and a special memory-making time for our guests, but it also serves as a key fun- draising event to support our gardens, education events, therapeutic horti- culture programs and other functions of the garden in pursuit of our mis- sion to bring our community closer to plants and the natural world," said Sheila Hanrick, director of marketing for the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Santa will be there for kids and photos. S'mores will be available at the bonfire. Crafts and games will be plenty for kids and adults who are kids at heart. New this year will be the showing of the movie "Frosty's Winter Won- derland" at the Gazebo. ere will also be a scav- enger hunt, aptly named "e Best Christmas Scavenger Hunt Ever," with nightly prizes. For those who want to make sure their letter gets straight to Santa, there will be a drop-off spot for letters. ere will also be live music and performances from local dance troupes. ese performances will vary depending on the availability of the entertainment each night. Food and drinks will be available from food trucks and the Garden Bar. For those who need to do last-minute holiday shopping, the Garden Gift Shop will be open, as well as a Vendor Market, featuring local artisans. "We have a few other surprises, too, that we know our visitors will enjoy," Hanrick said. ere will be a complimentary preview night on Dec. 1, which will be free to members, sponsors and donors. e event will run from Dec. 2 through Dec. 22 – every weekend in December and nightly from Dec. 16 through Dec. 22. "Advance tickets are highly recom- mended," Hanrick said. "Many of our nights will sell out. Tickets are date and time specific for entry to help reduce parking and entry delays, but once you enter, your experience is self-directed, and you can stay as long as you'd like." Ticket prices range from $6 to $14. ey can be bought at https://www. etix.com/ticket/v/26840/cape-fear- botanical-garden. For more informa- tion, call 910-486-0221. Holiday Lights in the Garden runs from Dec. 2 to Dec. 22. (Photos courtesy Cape Fear Botanical Garden)

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