Summer concert series a success

Inspired by houses of worship in New York City which use their sanctuaries to provide free and low cost venues for music in the community, the Baldwin Civic Association’s Quality of Life Committee developed a music series in collaboration with the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Baldwin. The series, free and open to the public, was offered on two evenings, July 10 and 24. The program highlighted local talent and featured music of different faiths and ethnicities. It was designed to help build understanding and community across the diverse faiths and cultures of Baldwin and the surrounding local communities.

The concerts featured local musicians, and included Jewish music from Europe, Israel and the Middle East and Spain performed by Shir Harmony, a group from Central Synagogue of Nassau County. Charmise Desiré, another local musician, performed gospel music from the African American tradition. Bob Bernstein (Wolfman Bob) and the Wolfcats performed American acoustic music including swing, bluegrass, country and folk; Pipers Three, a recorder and drum ensemble played early music, classical , and folk music from Western and Eastern Europe and Anzita performed songs of celebration and social justice from Latin America, including Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

The series was well received, and there have been requests to do the series again next year. For more information contact qualityoflife@baldwincivic.org.