Music at Bethel to host 'We Need a Little Christmas' livestream Dec. 6

Posted December 01, 2020 10:00 pm

Submitted by Bethel United Church of Christ

Evan Tyrone Martin, who has headlined "An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas," will sing "Caroling, Caroling" and "The Christmas Song." Courtesy of Music at Bethel

Elmhurst's Bethel United Church of Christ continues its "Music at Bethel Concert Series" with a virtual musical extravaganza "We Need a Little Christmas" at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. There is a freewill donation.

The concert will showcase some of the past and present Music at Bethel stars singing and playing some beloved Christmas songs. The concert will be live streamed to Bethel's YouTube channel from PianoForte Showroom in downtown Chicago.

Performers will include Jenny Riddle, Lara Filip, Felicia Filip Burkovskiy, Guitarra Azul founder and lead guitarist Steve Edwards, and jazz pianist and vocalist Elizabeth Doyle.

The host will be Jenny Riddle, well known throughout the Chicago suburbs for her dramatic book reviews

Soprano and Bethel favorite Felicia Filip Burkovskiy, a highlight of the October Gershwin concert, returns to perform Christmas pop classics "The Christmas Waltz" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Bethel's Minister of Music and pianist Jeffrey Panko will perform "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Russian Dance" from the "Nutcracker Suite" on PianoForte's stunning Fazioli grand piano.

Evan Tyrone Martin is often referred to as "golden voiced" for a reason. He headlined and toured in "An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas" last season for a reason; his voice warmly resonates the velvety vocal style of musical legend Nat himself. Tune in at 7 p.m. to hear Evan sing "Caroling, Caroling" and "The Christmas Song."

On Sunday, Dec. 6, Guitarra Azul's Steve Edwards will play "Silent Night" on his classical guitar as part of Music at Bethel's "We Need a Little Christmas" livestream. Courtesy of Jennifer Girard Photography

On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the Austrian village of Oberndorf, priest and lyricist Joseph Mohr and composer Franz Xaver Gruber premiered "Silent Night" accompanied only by a guitar. Hear Guitarra Azul's Steve Edwards play this most enduring Christmas carol on his classical guitar.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Music at Bethel livestream concert will feature pianist and minister of music Jeffrey Panko playing "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and "The Russian Dance" from the "Nutcracker Suite" on PianoForte's Fazioli grand piano. Courtesy of Music at Bethel

Elizabeth Doyle is a multi-talented singer, pianist, composer, lyricist and music director. She has been a featured guest on the late Marian McPartland's NPR program, "Piano Jazz," and was a magnet for many years at Chicago's famed Pump Room.

Elizabeth Doyle

Lara Filip is a singer/songwriter based in the Chicago area.

The live recording of the concert was underwritten by Hans Koelsch and Roberta Fox. The Annelyn Education Fund provided support for the artists.

For information, visit www.musicatbethel.com or www.facebook.com/MusicAtBethel/.

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