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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Cumberland Oratorio Singers Open Season With American Sampler by STEPHANIE CRIDER The Cumberland Oratorio Sing- ers are a unique performing group in Cumberland County, and on Friday, Oct. 22, the group will open its season with An American Sampler. The group will bring its sweet music to Hay Street Methodist Church at 7 p.m. during the 4th Friday events. An American Sampler is an assortment of songs written by American composers. If you’ve never seen the Oratorio perform before, you will want to take ad- vantage of this great opportunity to enjoy the concert with your friends during the 4th Friday event. The Cumberland Oratorio Singers have been making their voices heard in the community since 1991 when Alan M. Porter gathered approximately 80 volunteers together to observe Wolfgang Amadeaus Mozart’s death. From 1991- 2008, Porter served as artistic director and conductor of the group. In 2008, Michael Martin came on board and has been leading the group ever since — and has been warmly re- ceived by the community. “This is his third season with us,” said Mary Potter, Cumberland Oratorio Singers president. “We have grown in numbers and diversity — and we have a lot more young people, more professional music people who are joining us to sing, so we have grown in a lot of different ways. We have gotten out of the pattern of doing all our concerts at Methodist University, too. We are out and about in the community doing our concerts so that is also growth.” The Cumberland Oratorio Singers currently boasts a membership of about 70 strong, and is becoming more and more visible in the community as they reach out to share their love of music, song and fun. “There is a vast a array of material that we are singing, both for this concert and for the entire season,” said Potter. “This concert is a composite of music that has been penned by American writers, although there is no particular genre. In that sense we have changed...there is a French song...a religious song...I guess you would say we have branched out in the respect that we are not just doing clas- sical music anymore. For example, last May our last concert of the season was a jazz concert.” The rest of this season looks to be an exciting one. While the group is growing and changing, Potter said the community doesn’t have to worry, they can still look forward to the traditional performance of the Messiah in December at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. This particular concert has become a tradition — one that the community has embraced. At this performance, members of the community are invited to join the group on stage for a walk-on performance. April will feature a performance of John Rutter’s Requiem, and the season will conclude with a joint musi- cal effort — Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Potter said that music lovers who are interested in joining the organiza- tion should not hesitate to contact the organization, as they are always looking for new talent. To fi nd out more about this dynamic group of performers, visit the website at www.cumberlando- ratoriosingers.org. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com. Pay Per VIEW HALLOWEEN PARTY Party like a zombie all weekend! OCTOBER 29, 30 AND 31 WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE Scariest, sexiest, most wicked and wildest costumes in town! weekend long will be there ! The Cumberland Oratorio Singers WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 20-26, 2010 UCW 9 Covered, Heated Patio Open! 1500 sq. ft. 500 sq. ft. ted Live Entertainment Thurs & Sat Nights! Full Bar with 7 50 inch TVs