Medfield resident and award-winning concert pianist David McGrory will be performing the finale to this year’s Lowell Mason House Holiday Concert. He is one of more than a dozen performers in the 2020 virtual event to air Dec. 5 on Medfield TV.
For the 6th consecutive year, more than a dozen local performers of all ages, genres and musical experiences will share their talents in the Lowell Mason House Holiday Concert, to be held virtually this year at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, on Medfield TV, in celebration of the father of music education in the U.S.
With the support of First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Medfield - the very church where Lowell Mason was music director in the 1800s - the concert will feature an array of musical pieces interspersed with inspirational remarks about the benefits of music and music education. Contributing to this year’s concert message is a guest appearance from John Benham, national music education advocacy expert and a Lowell Mason Fellow, a National Association for Music Education honorary designation. Also participating as concert speakers are FPUU Medfield Minister Rev. Dave Egan and Lowell Mason House Concert Director Tom Scotti.
Due to COVID-19, the prerecorded Lowell Mason House concert will air on Medfield TV cable stations Comcast 8 and Verizon 47, and online at www.medfield.tv/watch. In lieu of concert tickets, virtual attendees are encouraged to make a donation to the nonprofit Lowell Mason House at www.lowellmasonhouse.net.
Performers featured in the 2020 Lowell Mason House Holiday concert include: FPUU Medfield Choir; Trills ‘n Chills a cappella group; Montrose School Treble Makers a cappella group and Hand Bell Choir; Medfield student soloists Andie Brown (Koto) and Emily Sheppard (flute); MHS jazz alumni Anton Derevyanko, Matt Stavrakas and Mitchell Selib, with Ilya Blazh; Vocal trio Becca, John and Rachel Kornet; Jill and Peter Moran on vocals and guitar; Kramer sisters a cappella trio; Jeri Bergonzi jazz trio; Andy Costello on violin; Justin Casinghino on piano and vocals; Don Rankin on tuba; and Concert pianist David McGrory (grand finale).
Lowell Mason was born in Medfield in 1792 and became known as the father of music education after being the first to advocate for the inclusion of music in Boston Public Schools. In addition to his role in music education and as church music director, Mason was also a composer and arranger who collaborated on a number of well-known songs, including the holiday classic, "Joy to the World.”
The house where Mason was born was saved from demolition and moved to its current Green Street location adjacent to Hinkley Pond in 2011; the Lowell Mason House non-profit organization was incorporated that same year.
This year’s concert has been produced in collaboration with Medfield TV and Music at the Meetinghouse. It is funded in part by a grant from the Medfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
