TGIF, Dec 8, 5:30pm

Our own Chancel Bell Choir, conducted by Travis Bregier, director, will lift you up and into the Christmas spirit with their Friday concert. Sanctuary doors open at 5:15 pm and the concert begins at 5:30. The concert is free with donations accepted.

Program

Christmas Carol Fest (arr. Douglas E. Wagner)

A Stable Lamp is Lighted (arr.Jeffrey Honoré)

Ding Dong Merrily on High (arr. Cynthia Dobrinski)

A Still and Silent Night (arr. David Beatty)

Christmas Carol Fest 2 (arr. Douglas E. Wagner)

First Presbyterian Church Bell Choir

The Bell Choir has a long tradition at the church.  In the 1950s, a hand bell sales representative visited the pastor of the church, the Reverend Kenneth Keeler, who had previously heard a performance of bell ringers at a national church meeting.  With two octaves of bells acquired, the first bell choir, Youth Ringers, was formed and was considered part of the youth ministry.  Its members became a source of future members of the church’s Chancel Choir.  During the tenure of the Reverend Robert Boshen in the 1950s, Mary Boshen often related that Robert Boshen asked her to marry him because of her service as a bell choir director in California.  In 1987, Linda Raney formed the Bell Choir.  Today the group has no age restrictions and is open to all, under the direction of Travis Bregier, Assistant Choir Director.

Travis Bregier, teacher, conductor, and baritone, earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance at North Dakota State University, presenting three recitals and appearing in operas with roles including Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), The Learned Judge (Trial by Jury), and Quince (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). In addition to being the Assistant Choir Director at First Presbyterian, he is a music mentor in the Santa Fe Public Schools through Dream Big (Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival), Performance Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, and he teaches voice and piano at The Candyman: Strings & Things. He regularly performs musical theater roles with Tri-M Productions and has appeared with Polyphony: Voices of New Mexico, Chanticleer (Performance Santa Fe), and Opera Southwest.