Francestown Old Meeting House presenting holiday concert

Joyce Andersen and Harvey Reid.

Joyce Andersen and Harvey Reid. COURTESY PHOTO

Published: 12-08-2023 9:00 AM

Francestown Old Meeting House, 1 New Boston Road, will host a free holiday concert Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.

The concert features steel-string guitar player Harvey Reid and New Hampshire-born fiddler, singer and songwriter Joyce Andersen in a joint performance with the ConVal Select Choir. Reid and Anderson perform old-time, Celtic, rock, spiritual, folk, pop, swingroot, bluegrass and Americana music. They take turns on lead and harmony vocals and perform at bluegrass festivals, clubs, coffeehouses and concert halls across the United States and in Europe.

They have a long history in the Monadnock region, including Reid’s solo holiday performances at The Folkway in Peterborough for many years. The program will include mostly Christmas classics, sprinkled with some unknown songs and a few songs of their own.

The ConVal Select Choir consists of 18 students who rehearse after school once a week under the direction of Brian Moore. This honors choir is made up of auditioned students who perform a college preparatory choral repertoire that spans diverse time periods and styles. Students in this choir have been awarded gold medals at the Great East Festival.

In addition to regular department concerts at ConVal, these singers advocate for music in the community by performing in theatrical productions, All-State choirs, regional festivals and community performances. Moore has been the choir director at ConVal High School since 2019, with over 20 years as a public music educator and a master’s degree in choral conducting and sacred music. He is a freelance performer and commissioned composer.

The vocalists are accompanied by pianist Mary Ann Fleming, music director at the Union Congregational Church in Peterborough.

The performance is free. Masks are recommended but optional. Donations to the Old Meeting House are welcomed.

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