By Crystal Hayduk
The beauty of live chamber music will once again resound to usher in the season during the Hometown Holiday Concert at 3 and 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St., on Dec. 5.
Featuring Nathan Peters, Paula Elliott, David Schultz, and Sara Cumming, the Chelsea Chamber Players (CCP) will perform quartet music by Emilie Mayer and Florence Price—complex pieces worthy of the festive return of the annual event following the pandemic pause in 2020.
Advanced chamber musicians from Chelsea High School will open the program. Tomás Merkel and Seren Angus will play a duet by Rossini; followed by a Beethoven piano trio performed by Megan Hayduk, Phoebe Harris, and Peter Mourad.
“We are doing our best to present live music in the safest way possible,” said Cumming, the group’s cellist. A limited number of in-person attendees will be permitted at the free performances, with overflow at the 3 p.m. performance seated in the adjoining hall to watch the livestream. Audience members will be required to wear facemasks and social distance.
For those who are not able to attend in person, the 3 p.m. performance will livestream on the Chelsea First YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-oDHg9zaImC42npYW0EvTA.
The concert will conclude with Christmas carols.
Chelsea Chamber Players would have celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2020 with a huge commissioned work by Chelsea composer Brian Brill, but the premiere was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cumming said the group expects to reschedule it when circumstances permit 150 or more performers in the church, which includes Chelsea High School orchestra and choir students playing with the professionals to present the new piece.
Anniversary t-shirts will be available to purchase for $18 at the concert. Proceeds support CCP’s free concerts.
About Chelsea Chamber Players (from www.chelseachamberplayers.com): Since 2000, the Chelsea Chamber Players has provided live music concerts to Chelsea and surrounding communities, and educational experiences through workshops in local schools and masterclass opportunities. Contract musicians perform as duo, trio and quartet ensembles, supported by a small number of volunteers. Since the spring concert of 2004, all Chelsea Chamber Players concerts have been free of charge.
