Upcoming events: Sundaes and laughs at grounded4Life; Windham Orchestra holds open rehearsal; and Brattleboro Concert Choir holds two performances

For more upcoming events, click here for The Chester Telegraph calendar. To be included in our Upcoming events briefs, email Susan Lampe-Wilson at calendar@www.chestertelegraph.org. Photos welcome. No PDFs, please.

Jan. 2: Warm up your new year
at grounded4Life

Join grounded4Life and kick off 2015 with sundaes and funny videos beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.

Suzie and Bethany will brew up your favorite hot drink including white chocolate lattes. The Grounded4Life coffee house is located in the lower level of the Chester Baptist Church, 162 Main St. in Chester.

Doors open at 6:30 with food, coffee, fellowship and conversation. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information and upcoming events check out the grounded4Life Facebook page or contact John Nunnikhoven at john4ns@fastmail.fm.

 Jan. 5: Windham Orchestra to hold open rehearsal

On Monday, Jan. 5 from 8 to 9 p.m. the Windham Orchestra will hold an open rehearsal at the First Baptist Church, 190 Main St. in Brattleboro. The rehearsal is free and open to the public. Following the rehearsal, there will be a question and answer period.

This event will introduce Jacob Mashak’s “Concerto for Piano and Wind Orchestra,” which will be premiered at the orchestra’s upcoming concerts on Jan. 23 and 25. The piece is to be conducted by the composer. The concerto is one of four new works commissioned by the Windham Orchestra to celebrate its 45th season.

Mashak was born in Vermont and is noted for composing the longest work for piano on record, the 11-hour long “Beatus Vir” for two pianos, which premiered at Boston University in 2008. While living in the Brattleboro area, Mashak taught at The Putney School and played principal trombone in the Windham Orchestra.

Contact the BMC at 802-257-4523 for further information.

Jan. 10: Brattleboro Concert Choir performances announced

On Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. the Brattleboro Music Center’s 100 voice Brattleboro Concert Choir, directed by Susan Dedell, will be joined by full orchestra and soloists. There will also be a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11. Both performances will be at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St. in downtown Brattleboro.

Four soloists will join the choir for this concert: soprano Amanda Grooms; mezzo soprano Jazimina MacNeil; tenor Hugo Vera; and baritone Mark Womack.

Tickets are $15; $10 for students. They are available at the Brattleboro Music Center, 38 Walnut St., by calling 802-257-4523 or from choir members.

– Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson