Children Perform To Support Seats Project

The newly formed group Newtown’s Children’s Music for the Performing Arts held a performance recently to benefit the Newtown Lions Tercentennial Edmond Town Hall Theatre Seats Program.

While raising more than $400, this group of 8- to 12-year-olds, brought some wonderful music to the audience. With a varied show ranging from choral music as well as solos by Bianca Crudo, Morgan Hopper, and Katie Cummings, guitar solo by James Cochran, piano solo by Richard Huffman, duets performed in various combinations by Siena D’Addario, Morgan Hopper, Kelsey Hopper, Allyson Makuch, Alison Kron, Katie Cummings, Samantha Wray, and Michelle Spanedda and two songs and dance numbers performed by Chris Johnson, the show was a great success. The show concluded with a very moving song, “Willows,” in honoring US soldiers.

Less than a year ago Catherine Urso gathered the children together to further a love of music. Numbers increased as kids told their friends how much fun it was to be in the group. Ms Urso is not only the guiding light in the creation of Newtown’s Children’s Music for the Performing Arts but she wrote or arranged much of the program. She said she tries to write uplifting songs with singable melodies. Although she majored in business in college, she came from a musical family and has always loved performing.

Anyone interested in getting a child involved in the group should call 203-206-1962 to register.

The $414 raised by this performance was donated to the Newtown Lions Club’s Tercentennial Edmond Town Hall Theatre Seat Program. The Lions hope to replace all 411 seats in the main level of the theater because they are in terrible repair, and there is no tax money to repair them. To achieve this goal they are trying to sell each seat for $300.

Donors who contribute $300 will have a plaque placed on the back honoring whomever or whatever is desired.

“Although we want to sell all the seats, we welcome smaller donations as well and we have had a good many of them,” said Gordon Williams, chairman. Readers who have questions can call him at 426-6443. Anyone who would like to contribute, the check should be made out to the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers with a notation that it is for the seats program. Checks should be sent to the Newtown Lions, Attention: Gordon Williams, PO Box 218, Newtown CT 06470.