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Monday, April 24, 2006
Voices of Hope celebrate food bank's achievements
Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||
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Voices of Hope filled Merrill Auditorium Saturday as supporters gathered to benefit an organization that has been a godsend for many of Maine's hungry: the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The concert celebrated the food bank's 25 years of community service. The Good Shepherd Food Bank has come a long way since founder JoAnn Pike started rummaging through dumpsters for salvageable food for the needy in 1981. In 1983, she partnered with Robert Dunton, former senior vice president of Hannaford, to establish a food reclamation program that designated the food bank as the recipient of all damaged goods. Today, the organization helps provide food to more than 70,000 people each month. Pike died in 2004, and Dunton passed two years earlier, but their mission of "Feeding Maine's Hungry" lives on through the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Saturday recognized their achievements. Rob Caldwell and Kathleen Shannon of WCSH 6 hosted the three-hour event, which featured performances from four Maine choral groups, 16-year-old vocalist Shannon Selig and singer-songwriter Don Campbell. The Gorham Community Chorus opened with "Praise Ye," by J. S. Bach, with Peter Stickney providing accompaniment on the majestic Kotzschmar Memorial Organ. The performance showed versatility with classical, African and jazz rhythms. The apprentice choir of Musica de Filia ("Daughters of Music") followed with a two-song performance. The preteen girl's choir delighted with vocals transcending their young age. The group's concert/chamber choir performed in the second half of the evening. These girls, 18 and younger, delivered a lively four-song performance that concluded with "Rhythm of Life" (arranged by Richard Barnes). The song featured two girls stomping out the rhythm with oversized traffic cones and two rhythmically clanging trash can lids. The performance received a standing ovation. The evening also featured beautifully voiced performances from the 14-member Medieval and Renaissance choir Ave Maris Stella ("Hail, Star of the Sea") and the Portland Community Chorus, which serves as the core group for the Portland Symphony Orchestra's Magic of Christmas Chorus. Selig, who was featured in the Magic of Christmas last year, performed "My Prayer" (Medema) and "My Time on Earth" (arranged by Ken Medema), dedicated to Pike and Dunton. Her full, powerful vocals captivated the audience. Special guest Don Campbell appeared after the intermission for a solo-acoustic performance of "Mr. Bill Gates" that left the audience wanting more. Laughter rang through the auditorium as Campbell's velvety voice sang about finding love on the Internet. The song provided the perfect change of pace for the evening. The four choirs joined for a two-song, grand finale, spilling into the wings of the stage, with Musica de Filia performing from the Grand Tier balcony and the orchestra aisles. April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at: aprilhboyle@yahoo.com.
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