Sounds of Christmas as Long Island Musicians Visit Brooklyn

Immediate Release

Sounds of Christmas as Long Island Musicians Visit Brooklyn

BROOKLYN - Sounds of Christmas music filled the 1892 Parish House at the New Utrecht Reformed Church in Bensonhurst as the North Shore Pops Concert Band played a combination of traditional carols, Christmas songs from Broadway shows, big-band favorites, and included an audience sing-along halfway through. The concert was free, sponsored by the Friends of Historic New Utrecht.

The 33 musicians, under the direction of Eric Albinder, made their first appearance in the Brooklyn hall, which is becoming known not only for its architectural significance in the history of the borough, but also for its dazzling acoustics. The founder and conductor of the ISO Symphonic Band and music coordinator for the Friends organization, Brian P. Worsdale, sat in throughout the concert playing trombone.

Founded more than 20 years ago in Glen Cove, the Pops Concert Band has become well known on Long Island and beyond as many of its musicians played in the big bands, including those of Benny Goodman, Xavier Cugat and Guy Lombardo. The New Utrecht concert also offered a touch of the Glenn Miller sound.

"We hope this is just the beginning," said Robert Buonvino, president of the Friends historic organization. "We'd like to have summer concerts, outside on the church lawn (at 18th Ave. and 84th St.), maybe even in a gazebo," Buonvino added, "if funding will allow."

Before the concert, the church, established in the town of New Utrecht in 1677, offered a "Living Nativity" as its annual "gift" to the community, a tradition dating back to the 1950s. A lantern hung on the stable, where people and animals presented a "manger tableau," contained a "peace light." The flame of an international peace lamp had been carried from Europe on a mission of peace and mercy started by the Austrian Broadcasting Company. The next day, Dec. 17, the church minister, the Rev. Terry Troia, spoke of the meaning of the peace light in a Sunday worship service.

The concert was held in the Parish House as the church sanctuary, built in 1828 using some of the stones from the original building not far away, undergoes a $2 million repair and restoration. More information on the history of Brooklyn's earliest years is available at www.historicnewutrecht.org and by calling (718) 256-7173.

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December 2006