St. John’s Church Hosts Chapel Street Band for Choir School Benefit Concert and Reception, May 13 at 3:30pm

All are welcomed to St. John’s Church, 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth, for an afternoon of heart-thumping music with The Chapel Street Band, followed by a festive reception, 50/50 raffle, and silent auction. The event is free, and good-will donations accepted.

The Chapel Street Band, a newly formed quartet brought together through their mutual love of harmony, and their partnership as the team of music educators for the Choir School at St. John’s, will be headlining a special benefit concert at 3:30pm on Saturday, May 13th for the Choir School, a free after-school music program which seeks to engage young people in the art of choral singing and musical training. This concert will feature the talents of Ashley Wade, Jennifer McPherson, and Christina DeMaio (vocalists), and Olin Johannessen (director and arranger, guitar, vocals). Guest instrumentalists Steve Roy on mandolin, and Rob Gerry on upright bass join the band on May 13th.

This free benefit concert will feature covers of songs from the Folk, Americana, Rock, and Gospel traditions, featuring 3- and 4-part vocal harmonies with a three-piece string band with guitar, mandolin, and upright bass, and will be followed by a festive reception with light hors d'oeuvres, 50/50 raffle, and silent auction as well as opportunities to meet and greet the band and celebrate the students of the 2022-23 season. This year, the program has served 28 students aged 8-13 years old, representing 9 different schools across the Seacoast, including Maine and New Hampshire.

This event promises to lift you up as you rest in the pews of an historic Portsmouth church, with vibrant acoustics that resonate through the building joyfully. Building community through harmony and hard work describes the energy of the Choir School as the leadership reaches toward a vision of growth in the coming years. Come hear the story of the Choir School at St. John’s as its 8th year comes to an end.

A free-will offering will be taken during this hour-long concert. All donations collected at this event will support the Choir School children’s music program. You can DONATE ONLINE. We are not live-streaming this event, but if you donate online you will gain exclusive access to the online broadcast of the concert to watch from home live on May 13, or at your convenience!

What: Chapel Street Band Benefit Concert

Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH, 03801

When: Saturday, May 13, 2023, 3:30pm

Why: To hear amazing music and support the Choir School at St. John’s, a free after school choral music program for students around the Seacoast