Well, we made it! Most of us Cantatans survived Thanksgiving with our voices and musical excitement fully intact, with perhaps only our waste lines a bit bloated from all the turkey and pie. Nice! Better still we've now had a chance to rehearse in the Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Big Flats where next Sunday, December 2, we'll be performing some great music for a very lucky audience! And what a great performance they will enjoy!

Sunday's rehearsal, although not without a few of what we might euphemistically call "moments" was a great deal of fun and sounded much more polished and assured than many dress rehearsals this group has worked through in the past. This is going to be one stellar performance! Morten Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium" and Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria" are both simply amazing works being sung brilliantly, and the "Ceremony of Carols" that so poignantly reflect Benjamin Britten's inner turmoil as he sailed back towards his homeland in the spring of 1942 under the constant threat of U-boat attack. This is a program not to be missed!

Additionally our hosts at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Big Flats have a grand reception planned for both audience and musicians after the program. Treats to delight the tummy even as the glorious sounds of the choir still resonate in the ear! The singers and I are sincerely looking forward to seeing you on Sunday to share the fun we've had and beautiful music we have found along the way in preparing for this opening concert of our 49th year of making music in the Twin Tiers!