Stratfords of the World and Stratford Sister Cities Chorus join Shakespeare Market for a Free Unique Event at Shakespeare Park on Sunday, September 17th.
The Shakespeare Market is teaming up with Stratfords of the World and Stratford Sister Cities Chorus to sponsor the first “Fall Fête” to welcome in the autumn season at Shakespeare Park.
With so much planned for the future of Shakespeare Park we hope that events like these will help create a sense of welcome for all at the park. Browse Shakespeare Market vendors’ offerings, enjoy music by local performers, and relax in the beautiful park on a bench in Will’s Garden or on the green. We hope that you can join us.
Sponsors of the Shakespeare Park Fall Fête are:
The Shakespeare Market
The market brings an incredible mix of food growers, bakers, manufacturers, hand crafters, artists, along with producers of great products and do-gooders of every stripe and color to Shakespeare Park year-round, every other Sunday.
The Shakespeare Market is a community driven concept to build on the tragedy of the loss of the American Shakespeare Festival Theater. After the fire – nearly 1,000 Stratford citizens gathered to discuss the future of the property and some residents suggested creating an open air market for all to enjoy this beautiful property located directly adjacent to the Housatonic River, the stunning Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management Area, and glorious view of the Long Island Sound.
Take a short walk and find Mac’s Harbor, the original landing location of Stratford’s first European settlers in 1639, Bond’s Dock and Fishing Pier – the historical site of Stratford’s Oyster houses and famed boxing camp during the first half of the 20th century. Stratford’s Historic District, located on Academy Hill, is a short walk and contains 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th century homes. Shop, grow, and create LOCAL!!
https://www.theshakespearemarket.org/
Stratfords of the World (SOW)
In the Spring of 1985, the Stratford High School band went to the UK and performed at Stratford-upon-Avon during its ‘Shakespeare Birthday’ celebrations. It was here that the plan to create a link between Stratfords across the world was created. In 1986, Stratford, Connecticut was host to visitors from Stratford, Ontario. This was followed up by meetings in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (1987), Stratford, Ontario (1988), and Stratford, Connecticut (1989), and at least biennially ever since as “Sister Cities” in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
When SOW delegates get together, the host Stratford chooses activities for the delegates, which customarily include drama, dance and other cultural pursuits. A highlight of past meetings is the 1993 meeting in Stratford, Connecticut when we hosted a series of programs celebrating and re-creating the life, times and works of Shakespeare, using dance, music and naturally the bard’s own words.
A Shakespeare connection is the common link between SOWs. In 2016, in Stratford UK, everyone was delighted to be a part of the 400th Shakespeare celebrations, commemorating the bard’s passing 400 years prior. This year’s get-together was held in Stratford, Ontario, in early August, and it was a huge success, even gaining coverage on Canadian TV! Keep your stick on the ice, Canada!
We’d be delighted if you’d consider joining us as we share goodwill among our namesake cities. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696548830577007/
Stratford Sister Cities Chorus
Stratford Sister Cities Chorus has a wonderful mission to be “a volunteer, multi-generational, mixed voice, community ensemble, open to anyone of any background who loves to sing. A spirit of inclusiveness and support makes the Stratford Sister Cities Chorus unique and a truly community-oriented organization. . . with a broad repertoire that encompasses many genres of music. As choral and cultural ambassadors for the Town of Stratford, our group brings friendship and classical, popular, historic, and contemporary music to the ‘Stratfords of the World’ and our own community.”
In 1991, the Sister Cities Chorus was born. Founded by Hugh Catalano and conducted by Wooster Middle School music teacher, Lynn McGilvary, the chorus debuted locally in the spring of 1992. The group traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon that summer and to Stratford, Ontario in the summer of 1993. From 1996 until 2012, Dr. Joe Utterback, Minister of Music at the First Congregational Church, was the chorus’ director. The baton was then passed to Jeffrey Leinen, Choral and Drama Director at Stratford High School. Currently the director of the chorus is Christopher Andrade, Director of Vocal Music at Darien High School. Chris has ties to the Sister Cities back to when he participated in the exchange program in high school. We currently have approximately 40-50 active members and try to schedule at least four public performances in and around Stratford every year.
We always have a warm welcome for new members! Please join us!
