Nearly 40 years ago, St. Anthony’s Church hosted the second “Sounds of Christmas” concert in Revere—the first having been held at Revere High in 1976. Since then, the concert has been a wonderful tradition in the magnificent church, and the tradition continues this Sunday when the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra once again assembles around the church’s altar to perform a program of classical and holiday music.
The Robert A. Marra Memorial “Sounds of Christmas” Concert begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, and is free to the public, though everyone is asked to bring a generous donation of non-perishable food to benefit the Revere Food Pantry.
The concert is principally sponsored by Global Partners, Bocchino Insurance Agency, Comcast, and Suffolk Construction.
“Everything is ready—all we need is the weather to cooperate,” said Robert Marra Jr., concert organizer and President of the NSPO, and the son of the Orchestra’s late concertmaster after whom the concert was named in 2002. “As always, we are deeply grateful to our sponsors for making this possible, and we hope that everyone attending will reciprocate with a generous donation for the Food Drive.”
The concert will feature beautiful voice of soprano Jean Danton, who has made the Revere concert a bit of a tradition of her own. Ms. Danton has performed with the NSPO at St. Anthony’s on five previous occasions, and every time has enjoyed the audience rousing appreciation.
“It’s really a thrill to see the church packed year after year,” said Marra. “And they appreciate the music for its meaning and its beauty. When Jean Danton sings with the Orchestra, it’s the voice of angels. And she’s a vibrant leader of the joyous ‘Sing-a-long, when everyone gets to join in the fun.”
A new addition this year will be a narration by Revere High School senior Meloee Nazaire, who was selected to read her original essay “Christmas in a Changing World.”
While the concert is a joy for everyone who attends or watches on RevereTV, the concomitant Food Drive is what really represents the City.
Co-chair Dom Bocchino, president of Revere’s Bocchino Insurance Agency, commented on the food drive’s importance in the community.
“It’s sad, but it’s true, that there is such a need for help in the community, and that is especially true in the winter,” he observed. “This concert is the single most substantial contributor to the Revere Food Pantry at the First Congregational Church, and without the concert, the Food Pantry would have a difficult time fulfilling its mission during the coldest months of the year. I hope people take that into heart as they prepare to come to the concert with their donation.”