By Gail McCarthy
Staff Writer
—
Wendy Betts, director of Cape Ann Symphony Singers, will present an evening of music — from classical to pops — to benefit the Cape Ann Symphony in a special performance on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockport.
Betts will perform with pianist Priscilla Walter of Essex and friends as they combine their talents to present a vocal spectrum of musical selections. The concert will include vocal sets of Lee Hoiby and Richard Hundley, and music by Brahms, Handel, Purcell and Mozart, as well as sacred duets and selections from American Songbook.
"Wendy's programs are always picturesque and an eclectic experience. The evening will not only include the talented soprano voice of Wendy and keyboard talents of Priscilla, but will be sprinkled with voices from Wendy's voice studio." said spokeswoman Jacqueline Gravell.
In all, there will be about 18 performers, and a sing-a-long for a song or two.
The featured guest for the evening will be Brittany Betts, a trumpeter, jazz-singer and Christian songwriter, and also Wendy's daughter. She will perform Kurt Weill's "Lonely House."
Betts, who has an independent voice studio in Rockport, is known on the North Shore as founder and director of Share the Music, a group of 25 singers, now in its 10th year. The ensemble, which is an outgrowth of her vocal studio, presents selections from the American Songbook as benefits for worthy area organizations.
"The concert will start out classical and move toward sacred duets and then into the American Songbook with men from the studio," said Betts. "The Cape Ann Symphony is such a worthy organization that needs to be subsidized even more. This is a good way to give back because it's been such a joy working with them."
Betts is also the organist/director of music arts at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield, where she has worked for 14 years. She works with adult and children's choirs and hand-chimes, often producing musicals based around biblical themes. In addition to serving as director of the Cape Ann Symphony Singers who perform at the symphony's Christmas concert, she serves as guest organist at Adelynrood Retreat Center in Byfield and Gordon-Cornwall Theological Seminary. Betts and husband Hank moved to Rockport 14-years-ago from Delaware, where she served as president of the Delaware State Music Teachers Association and maintained a full vocal studio.
Betts studied with Dan and Nancy Pressley of Delaware, Carl Olson of New York City, and Elizabeth Printy of Rockport. She also studied in master classes with Richard Miller of Oberlin College and vocal instructors at Westminster Choir College of Princeton, N.J.
Walter, a professional musician and music teacher, has 40 years of experience, including piano and organ instruction. She has served as organist/choir director at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Gloucester, at Topsfield Congregational Church and Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich. She also has accompanied adults and children's choirs and musical theater for many groups. She now accompanies and sings with the Cape Ann Symphony Singers.
What: Cape Ann Symphony Benefit Recital, an evening of song from classical to pops
When: Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Unitarian Universalist Church at 4 Cleaves St. in Rockport
Admission is $20 per person; tax deductible checks should be made out to: Cape Ann Symphony. Reservations not necessary.
