MEDIA MENTIONS

Songcatchers Sing for Peace at CNR
http://newrochelle.patch.com/articles/songcatchers-sing-for-peace-at-cnr

The audience enjoyed the intergenerational choir's renditions of seasonal classics.

By Sara B Caldwell
Published: December 13, 2010

With heavenly voices filling the College of New Rochelle Chapel, the Songcatchers presented their 16th annual Concert for Peace Sunday. About 400 people attended the holiday-themed evening and sang along to Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful and Go Tell It on the Mountain.

Sixty-five choir and pit members, whose ages ranged from 7 to 70, sang for peace.

As the program reads, "Peace in our hearts, our homes, our universe. Help us to live it each day of our lives."

Sister Beth Dowd, of New Rochelle, founded the organization at Blessed Sacrament in 1979 to reach peace through music. It currently offers a summer choir camp, after school music program, early childhood music program and concert choir and ensemble.

"Tonight's ensemble developed out of these programs," she said. "I think it continues to grow because it's part of the family spirit."

"I love how it is intergenerational. The older people were once 7-, 8-, 9-year-olds, and they're now the caretakers, the counselors and the people who teach them. Sometimes we have children who cry when they can't make it after school," Dowd said.

Pearl River resident Tom Monahan said he came to support his daughter. She has been in the choir for 25 years.

Vanessa Torres, of Harrison, said she believes that the organization is sucessful, in part, because of the selflessness of the volunteers.

Volunteers are young and old alike. High school students like Matthew Bialo have the opportunity to teach younger members music.

"He has been doing this for three or four years," his mother Kate Bialo of Larchmont said. "I've been a big supporter of the Songcatchers for over 10 years now. Sister Beth is the most amazing, inspirational woman that I know."

It was New Rochellean Rosa Terranoba's first time to this event.

"They did an awesome job. It was beautiful," she said.

Money raised from the event will help to further the Songcatchers' music programs and events.

 

 

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