The Polish Singers Alliance of America District IX continued its long-
St. Gabriel Church in Elma, NY, hosted the event Jan. 8, 2023 that drew nearly 200 guests to hear Polish and English Christmas music on Little Christmas, the Feast of Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the three kings to the infant Jesus.
The Kalina Singing Society, the female choir of the district under the direction of Edward Witul, opened the program with familiar koledy and a lovely Alsatian lullaby, Sleep, My Little One.
The Polish Saturday School Children’s Choir, featuring soloists Kalina Krzyszton, Justyna Kowalewski, and Oliver and Zosia Prokop, delighted the audience with their renditions of Przylecieli Aniolkowie, Gdy Sliczna Panna, Lulajze Jezuniu, Oj, Maluszki and Jingle Bells/Pada Snieg.
The powerful voices of the Chopin Men’s Choir followed with three koledy. The clear, sweet voice of soloist Haley Brunstad, a PSAA Scholarship winner, offered the popular Mary, Did You Know? and a lovely contemporary piece, Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, a touching piece asking what we would have done if we were there at Jesus’ coming.
The Chopin Singing Society under the direction of Dr. Thomas Witakowski offered a lovely selection of familiar koledy and closed with the ever-
St. Gabriel Church offered a luscious reception in the Parish Center to close the afternoon.
The choirs are always looking for new members. If interested in joining, the Kalina ladies rehearse on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the Parish Center of St. Philip the Apostle Church (email michele_cofield@ yahoo.com), the Chopin singers rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. at Potts Banquet Hall (visit www.chopinsingingsociety.com). Polish Saturday School holds classes on Saturdays beginning at 10:30 a.m. (email polishschoolbuffalo @gmail.com).
Kalina and Chopin singers will be travelling to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Hamilton, Ontario to join choirs Symfonia and Cantabile in a Koncert Koled at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. All are welcome.