This Saturday the Mendelssohn Club of Kingston is 106 years old and will present its annual Winter Holiday Concert at the venerable Old Dutch Church on Wall Street, which makes this seasonal tradition one that breaks most local records. Current president Lou Quarantino (also first tenor) has been singing in the all-male choir for a quarter of a century himself, and reports with enthusiasm this year’s program offerings: “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas” and many other old favorites. With 40-plus members taking the stage, along with pianist Katherine Burns, the concert promises to deliver a thrilling experience for aficionados of multi-voice music. And as they have done for the past 12 years, MCK will include the award-winning Kingston High School Brass Ensemble, directed by Steve Garner, and the Kingston High School Choir, directed by Lawrence Lohman, in the evening’s festivities.
The MCK choir is currently conducted by D. A. Goodemote, who served previously as its assistant conductor for 28 seasons. The Club performs in a wide variety of musical styles including sacred, classical, spiritual, theatre, folk, popular and operetta. With the expressed purpose of promoting “friendship, sociability and culture among friends of music,” membership is open to new, mature voices at any time during a rehearsal period throughout the year.
Arrive early and expect a standing-room-only crowd for this event, which begins at 7:30 p.m. with the Brass Ensemble, followed by the men’s choir at 8 p.m. and the student choir finishing off the concert. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. For more information visit www.mckny.org/kingston or call Lou Quarantino at (845) 331-7171.