Sunday, November 14, 2010

JA Singing School for Young Ladies/JASNA Syracuse Christmas Program

The JASNA Syracuse Region is very pleased to announce its first collaboration with the Jane Austen Singing School for Young Ladies: "A Georgian Christmas with Jane Austen," a concert to be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles on Sunday, December 19, 2010, at 3 pm. (Note the difference in day and time from our usual Saturday 2 pm meetings.) Although your Regional Coordinators have been warm admirers of the School and its director, Dr. Joanna Manring, since the School's first concert in November 2009, this program will be the first in which the School and JASNA Syracuse have actually worked together.

Co-Coordinator Lisa Brown has assisted Dr. Manring and the Young Ladies in ensuring the historical authenticity of the vocal selections. (Many of the carols familiar to present-day Americans come from the mid-19th century or later, and thus would not have been familiar to JA and her contemporaries.) And perhaps some English country dancing will be on the program as well! Finally, in honor of JA's 235th birthday on December 16, Coordinator A. Marie Sprayberry will read from the Rev. George Austen's letter announcing his second daughter's birth, and will recite the epigraph to Rudyard Kipling's short story "The Janeites"--a traditional birthday toast in many JASNA Regions. Admission to the concert is free, but donations to support the continuing work of the Singing School are welcome. We hope that Janeites from all over Upstate New York will attend this very special event!

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