There is no greater compliment to love than the music to express it.
“Throughout the ages, music and song and love and affection have been linked,” explained Cassandra Morgan, a member of the Occasion Singers, who will host a Cabaret Valentine Night of Love Songs at the Marion Art Center, on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm.
“Going back hundreds of years, music was the only entertainment that people had, except for church music, which expanded and evolved into folk and love songs,” says Ms. Morgan.
The a cappella vocal group will focus on love songs for Saturday’s upcoming event. The Occasion Singers have been around for approximately two years and originally was formed to sing at a friends’ wedding.
“We rehearsed and practiced and had so much fun we agreed to stay together as a group and sing at weddings and funerals,” Ms. Morgan said.
The group has added to their repertoire over time and each member sings several solos and a variety of duets. According to Ms. Morgan, a list of approximately 25 songs will be available for attendees to choose to have sung to their valentine at the concert. The concert will also feature a sing-along, with the audience joining with the group to sing several Beatles and Elvis Presley hits.
The group consists of six singers, three men and three women who have worked together to perfect their harmony. The group will perform some jazz and light pop classics such as “My Funny Valentine”, “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“We are all her (Cassandra Morgan) former students,” said Rui Moniz, the bass baritone in the group. “I’ve known Sandy since I was a freshman at New Bedford High School, where she was the choral director.” Other members include Christopher Saulnier, Eric Bosworth, Melanie Hannack, Denise Bastos and Caroline Blais.
The group does various charity work, including singing at the Mattapoisett town Christmas Tree Lighting, at Mattapoisett’s Harbor Days, at the Acushnet Lions Club and other benefits for non-profits or churches. Ms. Morgan is the organist and choir director at the First Congregational Church of Marion and has taught music for several decades.
Tickets and reservations can be made by contacting the Marion Art Center at 508-748-1266 or by e-mail at www.marionartcenter@verizon.net. The Marion Art Center is located at 80 Pleasant Street in Marion.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
