Brockville – The Volunteer Committee for the New Year’s Eve Concerts in the Downtown Churches announces that the 32nd annual concert series will once again be live and in person on December 31, 2023. The four host churches involved this year are St. John’s United Church, Wall Street United Church, First Baptist Church, and St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
The musical acts featuring performers in a variety of genres will be taking place starting at 6 pm and the last concert starts at 11:15 pm on New Year’s Eve. All concerts are free, however, freewill donations will be accepted at the churches, with all monies received to be directed to local charities selected by the churches.
“We are excited to be offering all these wonderful concerts this year, including some new acts. The kickoff concert at 6 pm is family-friendly. We encourage you to bring everyone regardless of age, along to hear the youth performers including Cinderella from The FairyTale Loft,” says Donna Matheson Chair of the NYE Concerts Committee. “As in previous years, we are so pleased to have so many incredible performers donating their time and talent, as well as supporting our local heritage, our charities, and our community,”
The full 2023 line-up is:
St John’s United Church & Brockville Arts Hub – 32 Park St., Brockville ON K6V 2G4
6 PM Family Focus – Performance for children and the young at heart. Youth performances by Madelaine Jones (sax), Clair and Henry Sechi (piano), and Claire Girouard (vocals) will be followed by Cinderella from the Fairytale Loft. She will share some favourite songs and carols for a magical singalong, with dreams for 2024.
8 PM Matthew O’Halloran & Evan Veenstra – Matthew on piano and Evan on electric bass will perform a selection of popular and original music in the styles of jazz, funk, Motown, and more.
Wall Street United Church – 5 Wall St., Brockville ON K6V 7K4
7 PM Brockville Concert Band – Under the direction of Chris Coyea and Judy Quick the award-winning
Brockville Concert Band is comprised of 60+ enthusiastic and talented woodwind, brass and percussion players. They enjoy playing a diverse repertoire, including marches, folk and Broadway selections as well as specially commissioned pieces.
9 PM Riverhouse – David & Tina Miles, Jackie McGuire, and Mark Bailey return this year with their smooth harmonies and eclectic song mix. Join this rockin’ cover band on a musical journey from classics to contemporary, performing rock, pop, folk plus a dash of country just for fun!
11:15 Chris and Alex with Friends – Chris Coyea and Alex Fleuriau Chateau with Margaret Whisselle (piano) and James MacKenzie (drums) present a fun-filled program of Broadway, Pop, Classical and New Year’s Eve favourites to ring in 2024.
First Baptist Church – 5 Pine St., Brockville, ON K6V 1E8
7 PM James King – In classic rock n roll troubadour style, King delivers unique and original interpretations of your favourite pop/rock songs from the 60s to the 90s, peppered with his poetic original tunes.
Shared Concert:
9 PM Festive Flutes -formed at the beginning of this year to participate in the Lions Music Festival, these players are thrilled to reunite and explore many styles of music, from serious to pop to jazz.
9 PM St Lawrence Recorder Quartet – four recorder players play both historic and modern music on various sizes of recorders.
10 PM Side Hustle – Ashley Tipper, Paul and Natalie Edwards return, playing acoustic versions of a wide
variety of song favourites, providing something for everyone to celebrate the coming New Year.
St Paul’s Anglican Church – 12 Pine St., Brockville ON K6V 1E8
8 PM Uother2 – Pam Foster and Donald Wachenschwanz, a duo who covers folk, pop, rock and U2 songs. Their set theme this year will be “Songs of Hope and Peace”.
Shared Concert:
10 PM Nicole Geneau – sings a variety of Broadway showstoppers with piano accompaniment by Donna Matheson will have the audience tapping their toes and humming along to familiar tunes from hit musicals.
10 PM Michael J. Lewis – will perform solo in his style as a folk balladeer
The committee would like to acknowledge all the NYE sponsors who make it possible for these free evenings to take place for Brockville’s citizens and visitors to enjoy. Ignite Printing is back again with its ongoing sponsorship involving the designing and printing of the posters for the event. Many thanks are due to them and to the other generous 2023 sponsors: All You Need Music, Irvine Funeral Home, BMO Bank of Montreal, Durand and Associates Professional Corporation, Hang Ups Creative Picture Framing, Maycourt Club of Brockville, Janet Eaton, RE/MAX Hometown Realty, and Douglas N.W. Smith.
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