Community Carol Sing Concert features Chicago Symphony trombonist Charlie Vernon.

By Community Contributor Pioneer Press Editorial. Published November 28, 2016

Charlie and Alison Vernon will once again gather a group of superb musician friends to celebrate the music of the Christmas season with the community on Monday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. This 28th annual musical celebration has grown into a popular Community Carol Sing tradition, in which the community is invited to gather, sing, and donate to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. All are welcome to attend this interactive concert at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1024 Lake Ave. in Wilmette.

Charlie Vernon, bass trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will be joined by over a dozen brass players, including CSO colleagues, members of other nationally ranked orchestras, local freelance musicians, and top students and alumni. Charlie's wife Alison will be gathering her singer friends to make up a choir totaling about 50 singers. The program includes holiday music for brass as well as carols sung by the audience accompanied by a rich cadre of brass instruments, the 50-voice choir and one of the best pipe organs in the Chicago area played by noted organist Andrea Handley.
Trinity United Methodist Church plays an important part as well. Its Clampitt Fund underwrites the event so that every dollar donated goes to the Greater Chicago Food Depository in this community-helping-community event. The church also has had a brush with Hollywood fame by being featured in the original holiday-season "Home Alone" movie 25 years ago.
All the musicians will be donating their time and talent at this event; no one is paid to perform, and many of the musicians also make monetary donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. A minimum $20 donation per person is requested to attend, with 100% of the donations going directly to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

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