Winter Solstice Concert

The Church on the Hill Concert Series presents the second annual Winter Solstice Concert on Friday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. in The Berkeley Springs Presbyterian Church on South Mercer Street.

Seasonal music will be performed by Madeline MacNeil, singer and hammered dulcimer player and Linda Whitesitt, violist. They will be accompanied by Lydia Walker, organist and Patricia Springer, pianist. The multi-media program of photography, seasonal music and readings from classical spiritual literature and contemporary poets will offer something for all faith traditions.

MacNeil performed most recently in Berkeley Springs at the Celtic Heritage Celebration in October. She has sung and played the dulcimer for over 30 years in concert halls, churches, monasteries, universities and country stores throughout the United States and in Scotland, Ireland and England.

Whitesitt is a member of the Warm Springs Chamber Ensemble and the Berkeley Springs Healing Waters Ensemble. She plays violin and viola frequently with the Living Springs Chorale.

Springer teaches piano in her private studio and is the pianist with the Warm Springs Chamber Ensemble.

Walker is the director of music and organist at The Presbyterian Church and Artistic Director of the Living Springs Chorale.

The concert will celebrate the longest night of the year, the winter solstice, 1:08 a.m. EST, December 22 and the return of the sun to the northern hemisphere. The celebration will be framed around the medieval church's canonical hours of the day – times throughout the day set aside for prayer.

There is no admission charge for the concert. Everyone is to take canned and packaged dry foods for Morgan County Interfaith Emergency Care. A reception follows in the fellowship hall. Take holiday goodies to share with friends and neighbors.

For more information contact Linda Whitesitt 258-0838 or Lydia Walker 258-3031.