Our Blog

Another magical season of Music on Meetinghouse Green has ended. This year, along with the music we enjoyed magnificent food available on-site.

Charles Nazarian, President of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation volunteered countless hours making it all happen, and Sandy Ronan, Vice President, volunteered to coordinate all the food vendors (which was no small task!) - What a delicious summer it has been.

It all started with the Be-bob guitars, in support of Pathways for Children. For the first time since the series started in the summer of 2016, we had to have the concert inside in the church’s vestry, which in no way made the evening any less brilliant.  This all faculty band from Berkelee College of Music offered us an evening of music from the jazz and music rooted in “Bop” tradition. Their guitar oriented jazz pleased all.

Peter Souza, Three Sheets to the Wind joined us next and celebrated the journeys of all the fishermen with song. The evening was in support of the Schooner Adventure pulling the audience into its sharing of song, everyone enjoyed the evening and left the better for it.

Melanie Bresnan in support of Kestral Educational Adventures. After a few idiosyncrasies with the speaker system, Melanie mesmerized the audience with her music, song, and lyrics. She ended with a beautiful A Capella version of the Gaelic tune Mo Ghile Mear. It was both beautiful and haunting with serendipitous accidental accompanists. Bresnan’s crisp, clear voice was lifted by a chorus of seagulls providing a heartening backdrop.

Willie Alexander never disappoints anywhere! And so was true this summer at Music on the Green. This summer he graced the stage with Persistence of Memory Orchestra. They played in support of Magnolia New Beginnings. The audience was enthralled.

Then Gordon Micheals. What a treat! In support of the Essex County Community Organization Micheals offered the audience his deep baritone voice, with ballads, jazz standards and R&B oldies.

All this was followed by Italian music in support of the Fishermen’s Wives Association. Scanzonati, introduced to the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation by Mayor Safatia Romeo Thekken, shared with the audience some great Italian oldies.

Nearing the end the Hye Fusion, in support of Artsbridge, performed Middle Eastern music integrated with Western Jazz. Once again inside, with no less of a crowd or enjoyment.

And then the band before the last, Deb Hardy and the Altiers. What an incredible joy! Opening up for Deb Hardy was the Grace Center’s Jug Band. Deb Hardy followed with brilliant lyrics and music of her own, as well as covers to please all. In support of the Grace Center, it was a successful evening all around.

The last night was a brilliant night of big band music with the Cape Ann Big Band. In support of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, the Cape Ann Big Band shared sounds of jazz, swing, New Orleans street bands, soul, rock ‘n roll and show tune ‘golden oldies.’

None of this would have happened without the support of our gracious sponsors. Linzee and Beth Coolidge set the stage with a large matching gift, and the following wonderful folks step up to the challenge: Thomas Zarella, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Michael Bresnan and Mary Ann Sherry, Joanne Hart and Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Thomas Andresen, Dick and Doris Prouty and Sandra Ronan.

Marylou Bassani volunteered every Friday night to set up and break down. She also helped at the Gloucester Meetinghouse table with staff Kelly Knox. Jeremy Melvin volunteered to help set up the stage and lighting and staff Liane Giunta was the event coordinator and made sure all the details for the evening were attended to.

 And last, but certainly not least our partner agencies averaged $1,000 each night in the free will offering.

 We hope you enjoyed the summer series Music on the Meetinghouse Green and we hope to see you back next year!