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“Three Young Men of the Church” Concert

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

To write about something perfect is a risk lest we detract from the perfection. Of course we're talking about the "Three Young Men of the Church" concert which took place on Sunday December 30th, following services.

Here are some audience quotes:

"The performers were all very invested in the pieces they performed and brought character to them that let their own lights shine.”

"Fabulous opportunity. It is wonderful that UU young people, past and present, would take time during their holiday vacation to perform for us.”

"The concert was fabulous: variety, inclusive of many talents, great blend of piano and voice, each skill so well presented. A great treat!"

"Superb! Wonderful so see each performer in his own element."

"Wonderful -- awesome, literally. When is the next concert?"

"Exciting, dynamic."

"You guys brought us all to tears. How talented and gracious you are!"

"Let's do this again!"

"Three outstanding musicians, three standing ovations -- our own "three tenors" equivalent, performing before a rapt and emotionally moved audience"

"It was an event not to miss; it was THE place to be at 11: 00 Sunday morning, December 30, 2007."

Our unending thanks to Sam, Evan, and Chris, our three professional musicians.Thanks to Sarah Seder and Sam particularly, and to Margrit Thomas and Melissa Ganza for making this happen. Kudos and appreciation to guest guitarist Jeff O'Donnell, for the beautiful part he played.

Thanks, too, to Dick Thomas and Edie Keller who performed important technical tasks.

Lastly, a special thank you to Severn for coming in on her Sunday off!
Nancy Brooks

Program

3 Young Men of the Church
Sam Duplessis, Evan Thomas and Chris Ganza
Sunday, December 30, 2007

Care Selve                                                                                                  Georg Fredrich Handel
Liebst du um Schonheit                                                                               Clara Schumann
O del mio amato ben                                                                                   Stephano Donaudy
When I Think Upon the Maidens                                                                   Michael Head
A Bit of Earth                                                                                           Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman

Sam Duplessis- Tenor
Chris Ganza- Piano

The Sunken Cathedral                                                                                 Claude Debussy
Song for My Father                                                                                     Horace Silver
Blues for Alice                                                                                            Charlie Parker
Prelude #1                                                                                                 George Gershwin

Evan Thomas- Piano
Jeff O’Donnell- Electric Bass

Concerto No. II in A Minor Antonio Vivaldi
Carillion de Westminster Louis Vierne

Chris Ganza- Organ

About the Performers

Sam Duplessis will earn his Bachelors of Music in Music Education with an emphasis in choral conducting from Ohio Wesleyan University this spring. There he has served as assistant musical director for two musical theatre productions, held leading roles in Opera Theatre and been featured as a Soloist with both the OWU Men’s and Women’s Ensembles. In the fall Sam would like to attend graduate school for Choral Conducting or begin his teaching career.

Evan Thomas has been studying classical piano for the last ten years and jazz piano for the last four years. 
He will be accompanied today by Jeff O'Donnell, a Waterville High School senior, playing the electric bass 
on Song for My Father and Blues for Alice. He is currently the organist/pianist at the UU church in Waterville.

Chris has been playing the organ for about 10 years. He has studied with Ray Cornils, and now studies with John Ferguson at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He was organist at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the UU Church of Waterville for 6 years, and now serves as the Sunday chapel substitute at St. Olaf College, and as an accompanist at St. Dominic's Catholic Church. He is grateful to be reunited with friends at the UU Church, and counts the church's organ under that list of friends!

Cupola coming off the church!
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