October 4, 2011

ST. LAWRENCE DEANERY — A musical celebration of the past, present and future will bring together musicians and choirs from six west side parishes. A Choral Fest will take place Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Cheviot.

The program is being put together by Angela Birkhead-Flight, music director at St. Martin, and will feature music that “ranges from quite old to contemporary,” she said.

Musicians on organ, trumpet, violin, keyboard and guitar will accompany 100 singers from the choirs of six neighboring Catholic churches. In addition to St. Martin, participating parishes include St. Aloysius Gonzaga in Bridgetown; St. Bernard in Taylor’s Creek; St. Catharine of Siena in Westwood; St. Jude the Apostle in Bridgetown; and Our Lady of Lourdes in Westwood.

A new composition has been commissioned for the event. There will also be a couple of gospel selections and one contemporary piece. Counter-tenor Michael Match, music director at St. Aloysius and winner of the 2010 Cincinnati Opera Idol Competition, will sing the “Ave Maria.” A duet will be performed by teenagers Mitchell Miller on organ and Rachel Flight on violin.

The Choral Fest is expected to last one hour and will be followed by a reception in the church undercroft.