A Classical Christmas

01/25/2025

Finally got the concert posted! Thanks so much!

A Classical Christmas is a holiday concert sponsored by St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC, which raises money for A Safe Place in Wilmington, NC. ...

12/23/2024

What a lovely evening! Thank you so much for coming out tonight and supporting A Safe Place Wilmington! We raised $1313 tonight! The sanctuary was full!

12/20/2024

Please join us for the fourth annual Classical Christmas Concert 🎶

Sara Westermark, lyric soprano, is a celebrated regional soloist, renowned private voice teacher, and metalsmith. Sara graduated with a Master’s in Voice Performance magna cm laude from the University of Missouri School of Music where she performed such roles as Pamina from Magic Flute, Susannah from Floyd’s Susannah, Mother Hansel and Gretel, Poppea l’incornatione di Poppea, and Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro. Sara has performed as a soloist with the Wilmington Symphony, UNCW Opera, Tallis Chamber Orchestra, Opera Wilmington, Wilmington Oratorio Society, Southeastern Oratorio Society, the Wilmington Choral Society, the Wilmington Guild of Organists, and serves as a soprano section leader for the St. James Episcopal Church Choir.

Her students have won top state, regional, and national accolades and awards through the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions, the Schmidt High School Classical Voice Competition, and they have received admission and scholarships to top music conservatories and universities. Sara’s work with young singers was published in a book by Karen Brunssen, “The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Through the Lifespan”.

12/20/2024

Joining us this year is the celebrated Dr. William Weisser, pianist

Dr. William J. Weisser retired in 2011 as Minister of Music at Edenton St. United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC where he had been responsible for seven singing choirs, three handbell choirs, three dance ensembles and instrumental ensembles with over 460 participants for over 35+ years. He was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Capital Area Chorale, a mixed voice community choir for 11 years. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor on the faculty of North Carolina State University where he directed the University Singers for 5 years; since retirement he served as Interim Director of Music at Centenary UMC in New Bern, NC 2011 – 2012.; as the Interim Music Minister at First UMC in Rocky Mount, NC 2012 – 2013; Interim Director of Music and Organist at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC, Organist at Hayes Barton UMC in Raleigh, NC, Interim Minister of Music at St. Paul UMC in Goldsboro, NC, Interim Director of Music and Organist at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilmington and now serving as Interim Director of Music and Organist at St James Episcopal in Wilmington NC.
Dr. Weisser is a graduate of Westminster Choir College where he studied Organ with Theodore C. Herzel, Dr. George Markey and Dr. Donald McDonald; Conducting with Robert Simpson, Robert Carwithen and Arthur Sjogren; and Voice with Herbert Pate, Ramon Kyser and Arthur Sjogren. At Westminster he was a member of the world-famous Westminster Choir which toured Puerto Rico. He has done graduate work in Sacred Music at Indiana University under Dr. Oswald Ragatz. Dr. Weisser received a Doctor of Humanities degree from Methodist College in May, 1997. He was also ordained a Deacon in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church in June, 1997.

12/19/2024

We are excited to welcome back this year—Tanya Hanano, mezzo soprano

Tanya Hanano, began singing with Cape Fear Chorale in 2015; she has enjoyed singing in various choral ensembles within the Cape Fear Community: Wilmington Choral Society, UNCW Chamber Singers, and Carolina Vocal Arts. She is currently the alto section leader at St. James Episcopal Church. She has sung with the NC Master Chorale for several seasons in Raleigh, NC.
In addition to choral ensembles, Tanya has sung in the opera ensemble for Opera Wilmington since 2015, and in several productions with NC Opera, including performing in the chorus onstage with Andrea Bocelli in Raleigh, NC on February 14, 2024, and most recently in their latest production of Verdi’s Ernani on November 10, 2024. She will also be in the ensemble for their upcoming performance: Florencia en el Amazonas by Catán in January, 2025.
Tanya has served on the Board of Opera Wilmington since 2017 and is currently the Vice President. In addition to her passion for singing, Tanya works full-time as an Acute Care Physical Therapist at Novant Health’s New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC

12/18/2024

Introducing Alex Gallo, tenor!

Alex Gallo, tenor, holds a Bachelor's in Vocal Performance from Pacific Lutheran University. He was a member of the prestigious 'Choir of the West,' under the direction of Richard Nance and Brian Galante. In 2015, Alex and PLU traveled to Linz, Austria, to compete and win the Anton Bruckner Festival. After winning the competition, 'The Choir of the West' was ranked as one of the top 10 choirs in the world. Today he is the general music teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Brunswick County Schools, where he hopes to inspire the next generation of musicians and choral singers.
In the years since moving to Wilmington, Alex has found a home in many different roles in the area's different performing circles. He has become a frequent performer with Opera House Theater Company, with Supporting roles in 'Annie' (President FDR) and 'Fiddler on the Roof,' (Avram,) this past summer, and a highlight in 2023 playing Tateh in Ragtime, Star News' Winner of Best Musical Production of 2023, in which Alex earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Alex is also a regular Cantor for St. Therese Catholic Church in Wrightsville Beach, and a Public Announcer for Cape Fear Community College Athletics, where he keeps up his rendition of 'The Star Spangled Banner.' Alex made his Professional Baseball debut this past July, as he sang the anthem at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. for the Washington Nationals.

12/11/2024

High School Senior Hans Graham Westermark has sung with the St. James Choir for the past ten years. He began as a boy soprano at age 8 in the youth choir, and the joined the adult choir at age 10. Hans Graham sang all voice parts as his voice changed from boy soprano, to alto, then tenor, and finally baritone. He possesses a rich deep timbre and studies voice with his mother Sara Westermark. He began competing at National Association of Teachers of Singing at age 9. He won third place in the children’s division in the state. As a sophomore he won third place in the NATS Regional and qualified for Nationals. Hans Graham enjoys music and science and is looking to pursue them both in college. He studies piano with Martha Hayes and has sung in Hoggard Voyagers since he was a freshman under the direction of Benjamin Horrell.

11/27/2024

Save the date! A Classical Christmas concert is Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 7:30pm. This free concert features the professional singers at St James Episcopal Church in downtown Wilmington. All donations go to “A Safe Place”. Come join us for beautiful music for a great cause!

01/01/2024

The video of our concert is up for 2023! Thanks for supporting our concert and our mission. We raised $747 for A Safe Place this year. Thanks also to Hans Westermark for editing the video.

St. James Episcopal Church is proud to present “A Classical Christmas,” featuring St. James’ own celebrated professional singers on a program of Christmas ca...