Traditional Christmas Concert and Tea heralded the season and the memory of Pine Plains organist Will Carter

Traditional Christmas Concert and Tea heralded the season and the memory of Pine Plains organist Will Carter

The Smithfield Church’s traditional Christmas Concert and Tea drew an enthusiastic overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7, to hear a varied holiday program performed by the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra, the final concert of the Bang Family Concert Series. The orchestra acknowledged the standing ovation at the concert’s end.

Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — Long a tradition within the Smithfield Valley, the annual Smithfield Church Christmas Concert and Tea thrilled an overflow audience on Saturday, Dec. 7. In addition to offering a varied selection of music within its historically authentic sanctuary space, the concert was dedicated to the memory of celebrated organist Will Carter of Pine Plains.

Performing under the baton of conductor Milt Lee, the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra of 14 members played a varied program of seasonal holiday music, along with Brazilian jazz, folk, Broadway and as an encore, “Jingle Bell Rock.” The audience got into the act with a sing-along portion that proved to be so successful it will likely become part of the annual tradition.

This year’s concert carried additional importance with the dedication of a plaque to the memory of organist Will Carter who in 2008 was the first featured solo organist to perform at the Christmas Concert and Tea. He went on to become the church’s regular organist for Sunday services. The plaque will be permanently affixed near the 1893 Johnson and Sons tracker organ that Carter relished playing. Carter died in the spring of this year.

Matt Finley, Director of the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra and a Pine Plains resident, noted that he first met Carter in Pine Plains, having learned that Carter was the owner and proprietor of the Pine Plains Wine and Spirits Shop, just 200 feet from Finley’s home. The musical connection was made.

Carter had served as church organist at Riverside Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. He was twice decorated by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to church music. His celebrated tenure at The Smithfield Church provided the concluding chapter in his professional performing life.

To view the concert video, go to www.thesmithfieldchurch.org.

Latest News

North East Town Board approves truck loan, hears school funding concerns

North East Town Hall on Maple Avenue in Millerton.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — North East Town Board members approved a $168,000 loan from the Bank of Millbrook to purchase a new truck for the town’s Highway Department at their regular meeting Thursday, Dec. 11.

The meeting marked the board’s final session of the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Village of Millerton sets stage for zoning overhaul, aims for transparency

Millerton Village Hall, where the Zoning Board of Appeals has begun laying the groundwork for a zoning overhaul aimed at modernizing the village’s code.

Nathan Miller

MILLERTON – The village Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on Tuesday night to begin laying the groundwork for a long-anticipated update to its zoning code — a process officials say is necessary to replace regulations they repeatedly describe as “outdated.” The discussion comes as the Town of North East faces public scrutiny over its November release of a years-long zoning rewrite of its commercial district.

To better understand the rewrite process — and avoid replicating challenges the town has encountered — ZBA Chair Kelly Kilmer invited two members of the North East Zoning Review Committee (ZRC), Edie Greenwood and David Sherman, to share insight.

Keep ReadingShow less
Snowstorm forces Millerton, Amenia and Pine Plains to reschedule board meetings
Amenia Town Hall
By Nathan Miller

Correction: The Amenia Planning Board does not have another meeting scheduled prior to the end of the year. It is currently unclear if the board will schedule another meeting to make up for the cancelled meeting on Dec. 10.

A snowstorm that dropped about an inch across northeast Dutchess County forced the cancellation of municipal board meetings in the Village of Millerton, Amenia and Pine Plains on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Keep ReadingShow less
Our visit to Hancock Shaker Village

The Stone Round Barn at Hancock Shaker Village.

Jennifer Almquist

My husband Tom, our friend Jim Jasper and I spent the day at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A cold, blustery wind shook the limbs of an ancient apple tree still clinging to golden fruit. Spitting sleet drove us inside for warmth, and the lusty smells of manure from the goats, sheep, pigs and chickens in the Stone Round Barn filled our senses. We traveled back in time down sparse hallways lined with endless peg racks. The winter light was slightly crooked through the panes of old glass. The quiet life of the Shakers is preserved simply.

Shakers referred to their farm as the City of Peace.Jennifer Almquist

Keep ReadingShow less