St. Stephen’s Church will present Carols by Candlelight on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 353 Main St. “This beloved Christmas concert is St. Stephen’s gift to Ridgefield,” said Derrick Goff (pictured), who is in his first full year as minister of music at the church. “We welcome the whole community to come to hear beautiful seasonal music. But we also invite singers out there to join the choir for this performance – being a member of St. Stephen’s is not a requirement.” Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9 in the choir room, which is accessible at the church’s rear entrance. The first rehearsal is Nov. 16.
According to the Rev. Whitney Altopp, Rector of St. Stephen’s, “Singers enjoy working with Derrick. I hear reports from regular choir members that he is a patient, skillful - not to mention fun – choirmaster. It’s not often that singers get to work with someone of his caliber. I hope that local singers of all levels of experience will take advantage of this opportunity.”
Before coming to St. Stephen’s, Mr. Goff was minister of music for nine years at St. Thomas Church, Whitemarsh, in suburban Philadelphia. He is an alumnus of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and is the Met’s music staff, and serves on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Goff has enjoyed many years of collaboration at Teatro Nuovo, a continuation of the young artist program of Bel Canto at Caramoor, where he is resident as a coach, chorus master, and Italian teacher. He holds degrees in organ and voice from Westminster Choir College.
If you have any questions about joining the choir for Carols by Candlelight, contact Derrick at music@saintstephens-ridgefield.org
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