CityView Magazine

14 October 2023 "Creating art brings fulfillment, a sense of accomplishment, a giving to the community, and enriches the lives of the artist as well as our community." For more information, call 910-433-2986, email artgallery@capefearstudios.com or go to capefearstudios.com. Cool Spring Downtown District is a nonprofit organization formed in 2017 to create and sustain an arts and entertainment district in the city center. e office is at 222 Hay St. Its more than 50 events each year include New Year's Eve Night Circus, Juneteenth Jubilee, and monthly Fourth Fridays. Its Ambassador Program provides concierge services on the street, including cleaning and street maintenance, public space management and outreach to the unsheltered. e free District Trolley runs on a 25-minute circular route from downtown to Haymount from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Upcoming activities include Zombie Walk, 6-10 p.m. Oct. 27 downtown and holiday carriage rides, Nov. 24. For more information, call 910-223-1089, email info@coolspringfay.org, or go to visitdowntownfayetteville.com. Cumberland Choral Arts has been "Serenading the Sandhills Since 1991" when Alan Porter, choral director at Methodist College, brought together a group of singers to perform Mozart's "Requiem" to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the composer's death. e singers decided to keep singing and founded Cumberland Oratorio Singers. e ensemble's three concerts per season included choral masterworks, including Handel's "Messiah" as a sing-along concert. As it branched out to perform jazz, gospel and Broadway music, the name was changed to Cumberland Choral Arts. Tickets are generally $5 to $15. Today, the nearly 100-member chorus performs four to five concerts per season and collaborates with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra for "Messiah." In 2015, the Campbellton Youth Chorus was established for singers ages 9-16. In May 2022, CCA was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall — truly a bucket-list item, says Sandy Cage, president of the board of directors. A European tour is planned for spring 2024 with concerts in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague. e 2023-24 season includes "Mass of the Children" by John Rutter, Oct. 7 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; "e Messiah," Dec. 16 at Berean Baptist Church; "Li Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey rough Black History," Feb. 17 at Seabrook Auditorium; "Seven Last Words of Christ" by Richard Burchard, March 23 at Haymount United Methodist Church; and "Colors!" May 17, E.E. Smith High School. "I am part of a family of singers," says Cage. "Once a week we share more than music; we get to know each other, encourage each other, smile and hug and form real friendships. Singing, listening: It's healing, calming, encouraging, enriching, challenging, and fun." New Year's Eve Night Circus fills Festival Park to toast new beginnings. Photo by Tony Wooten

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