NEWS ARCHIVES

Christmas sounds jazzy at church

November 21, 2007 - by Sean Pearce, Staff Writer
The Era Banner, York Region Media Group

Melissa Stylianou brings her style of music to Newmarket for a fundraiser concert for Resurgence Theatre.

Newmarket’s Resurgence Theatre Company is kicking off the holiday season early this year with an event they hope will really jazz things up.

The Sound of Christmas is a special concert Sunday to raise money for the 2008 York Shakespeare Festival.

The concert features jazz vocalist Melissa Stylianou, who is no stranger to Newmarket and York Region.

She has played at Sharon Temple and Newmarket High School. After growing up near Newmarket, she still has family in the area.

And while Ms Stylianou hasn’t lived in Newmarket, she has lived in other York Region towns such as Markham and Thornhill.

Ms Stylianou started singing in her high school.

After graduation, she studied vocal music at Ryerson University and found her calling to be jazz.

She has played many venues over the years including New York City's famous Birdland Jazz Club.

Accompanying Ms Stylianou from New York will be her boyfriend and long-time pianist, Jaime Reynolds. The duo will also be backed by bassist Mark McIntyre.

The concert will feature some jazzy holiday tunes such as I'll Be Home For Christmas and other favourites the audience will recognize, she said.

"I’m also really looking forward to playing in a church," she said. "It’s very rare that I get to play in an acoustic setting."

After Sunday’s concert, Ms Stylianou will head back to New York. She returns to Toronto Dec. 29 for a show at the Rex Hotel, followed by two shows New Year’s Eve at Roy Thomson Hall.

Ms Stylianou is looking forward to performing new arrangements of Benny Goodman classics at Carnegie Hall in New York to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Mr. Goodman’s concert at the historic venue.

The Sound of Christmas swings its way to the Christian Baptist Church located at 127 Main St. S in Newmarket Sunday. For more information on Ms Stylianou visit melissastylianou.com.

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The Sound of Christmas Concert - November 25, 2007