Mary Anne Barcellona-Collins to perform Dec. 18 with Epworth choir

Operatic soprano Mary Anne Barcellona-Collins will perform a Christmas Concert titled Journey of Promises to be held at Epworth United Methodist Church at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18. The Epworth Chancel Choir and the Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church Choir will also take part in the concert.

Barcellona-Collins received a voice performance degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and went on to study at the Graduate School of Fine Arts in Schifanoia, Italy, then to the University of British Columbia and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. For two years, she was a resident artist for the Canadian Opera Company with operatic roles of Najade in “Ariadne auf Naxos,” the Four Heroines “The Tales of Hoffman,” and Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro.” She joined the original Canadian cast of “The Phantom of the Opera” as Carlotta, and gave nearly 1,000 performances.

Besides continuing in opera and concert work, she teaches in a private studio, directs the Safe Harbor Church Choir and is on the faculty at Anne Arundel Community College, one of only a few community colleges in the country with an opera program. Barcellona-Collins has been a favorite soloist at Epworth for several solo concerts during the building capital campaign for Epworth’s new facility.

Judith Moore, music director of Epworth and Delaware Choral Society conductor for 19 years, will conduct the performance. Doug Yetter, Epworth organist and artistic director of Clear Space Theatre Co. in Rehoboth Beach, will be accompanying on piano.

Gregory Pascuzzi, accompanist and pianist at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville, Md., and formerly with the Army bands, will be featured on keyboard and will play his original trumpet composition based on “Once in Royal David’s City.”

The public is invited to the concert and to experience the wonderful spirit of the season with solos from Barcellona-Collins’ Christmas repertoire and an opportunity for the audience to participate in a carol sing-along. A catered reception will follow the concert. A suggested donation of $15 will benefit the Mary Lee Music Wing Building Fund.

Epworth is at 19285 Holland Glade Road north of Rehoboth Beach. For more details, call 302-227-7743 or go to www.epworth-rehoboth.org.