Free Harvest Gospel Concerts Continue Joyful Music Tradition with 100+ Member Volunteer Choir
 
(Riverhead, N.Y.) The East End Arts Council’s annual Harvest Gospel Concert series will take place Thursday, November 19, Friday November 21, and Saturday November 22 this year, marking over two decades of this inspirational community event, which is free and open to the public.  The non-denominational choir, whose members now exceed 100, continues to deliver an unparalleled music experience under the energetic and moving leadership of Artistic Director Mary Anne McElroy. The dates and locations (all performances at 8 PM) are as follows:

Thursday, November 19, 2009      
Mattituck Presbyterian Church  
12605 Main Rd
Mattituck, NY 11952
 
Friday, November 20, 2009           
First Baptist Church, Bridgehampton
141 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike
Bridgehampton, NY 11932
 
Saturday, November 21, 2009  
Friendship Baptist Church, Flanders  
59 Anchor Street
Flanders, NY 11901

Founded and presented by the East End Arts Council, the choir began with a mission to break down cultural barriers between blacks and whites on the North and South Forks of Eastern Long Island. The first year, the Council had booked an African-American opera singer to reach out to the black community – but when he cancelled – they turned to Mary Anne McElroy with the idea of establishing a mixed choir. Ms. McElroy, a graduate of Julliard, is well known in the local community as minister of music at Friendship Baptist Church in Flanders, where her husband, Rev. A. Charles McElroy, is the minister. The choir started out with about 40 singers, who were all black, and an audience that was all white. Now in its 23rd year, the choir numbers over 100 with singers of all ages and races. The audience has expanded as well, with more blacks attending from local communities such as Bridgehampton and Flanders. Last year, over 1100 people attended the concerts over the course of the three-night event. We hope you will join us for this exceptionally moving experience and celebration of our cultural diversity on the North and South Forks.
 
The Harvest Gospel Concerts are made possible in part by the Suffolk County Economic Development, Office of Cultural Affairs; Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman , Barth’s Drugstore, Astoria Federal Savings, and Riverhead Building Supply. For more information, please call 631-727-0900.
 
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