A Lewiston-Auburn holiday tradition is coming to Farmington. Since the early 1990s, Rowe and House have been performing a holiday concert together at the First Universalist Church in Auburn. Through the years the concert has undergone changes. The first four or five years, Rowe was joined on stage by his late father, Tom (also of Schooner Fare) in their duo called Rowe by Rowe. The concert was actually the elder Rowe’s idea. After several years, Breau joined in the fun when he joined the Rowes’ band, becoming a trio called Turkey Hollow. Tom Rowe passed away in early 2004, and since that year Dave has continued the tradition with Breau and House.
“It’s a family affair in every sense,” explained Rowe. “Phil and I have been performing this show together for so long, and now Denny has since 1998. It’s just like getting together with family and friends for a little music over the holidays. I don’t think any of us would miss this for the world!”
The Mt. Blue High School Chamber Singers have been heard in numerous venues in the RSU9 area. Under direction of Shumway, a 2012 inductee to the Maine Music Educators Hall of Fame, the Singers were awarded a Gold/Superior rating when they participated in the Heritage Music Festival in Boston this past March. The award earned this outstanding group of singers an invitation to perform in the famed New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
Hayden, organist and piano accompanist, has had a long history of serving as a church organist beginning with the Williston-West UCC Church of Portland, Maine in the mid- to late-1970s and then working at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook until 1982 when she moved to Farmington and began serving the Farmington area as organist for the Trinity Methodist Church before taking a permanent position with the Old South First Congregational Church UCC in 1992.
Concert ticket price is $15. Old South Church is at 227 Maine Street. Call 207-491-5919 or visit www.necelticarts.com for more information.
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- New England Celtic Arts will present the Dave Rowe, Denny Breau, and Phil House Holiday Concert at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Old South Church in Farmington. The Mt. Blue Chamber Singers under the direction of Carol Shumway and special guest Patrica Hayden will open the show. A community dinner will be served at noon by donation.
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