STAMFORD — Newtown Youth Voices will bring their musical message of hope and healing to the First @ First @ Four concert series on Sunday, November 3, at 4 pm. The group will be performing at First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road in Stamford.

The chorus of 20 children and youth from Newtown, ranging in age from 8 to 18, was formed in the wake of last year’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In the aftermath of that terrible day, music teachers Jim Allyn and Francine Wheeler assembled a group of children to sing “My Beautiful Town,” a song Mr Allyn wrote as a tribute to those lost. Among the children who died that Friday morning was Benjamin Wheeler, a son of Francine and David Wheeler.

“We just wanted to do something to reclaim some sense of hope, a vision of a brighter world. These kids are raising their voices and saying violence won’t have the final word,” said Mr Allyn said. A recording of the song has raised several thousand dollars for Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit support and advocacy group founded to support the community post 12/14.

Newtown Youth Voices continues to sing together as a powerful way to affirm healing and extend a message of love and peace to the community.  (Click here for a video of a recent performance)

Their live streaming online concert “Within Our Reach,” with Peter Yarrow, Vaneese Thomas, and poet Martin Espada, conducted from Newtown Meeting House in June, reached thousands of online viewers and inspired artistic contributions of children from around the world (learn more at www.withinourreach.us).  On July 7, the choir sang the national anthem at Yankee Stadium as part of Newtown Day. 

The Newtown Youth Voices will be joined in concert by the Old Town Hall Band, performing its eclectic repertoire of folk and bluegrass, toe-tapping swing, original songs and freewheeling improvisations. 

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. They are available through the church office (203-324-1323) or online.