Mystic Ecumenical Council Sponsors Festival Concert and Free Director’s Workshop

The Mystic Area Ecumenical Council will sponsor the 2011 Choir Festival Concert at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, at Union Baptist Church at 119 High St. in Mystic.

Children’s and Youth singers from ten area churches will combine in this festival worship service.  This annual event has featured many internationally-known choral directors and composers. This year's festival director will be choral conductor of children’s and youth choirs, Rev. Walter Edmonds, senior minister and youth choral director at Damascus United Methodist Church in Damascus, Maryland.

Edmonds has served the Damascus United Methodist Church for over 21 years as the associate pastor and now the senior pastor since 1996.  Edmonds has an extensive musical and ministerial background holding a bachelor's degree in organ and voice from Lycoming College, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Temple University.  He also studied and taught at the Hartford Conservatory.  In addition to his pastoral duties, he has directed several choirs at the church and conducts the Living Christmas Tree and the St. Cecilia Youth Orchestra.  

Rev. Edmonds has many ties to the Mystic area.  He served as the Youth Minister at Union Baptist while attending Yale Divinity School.    He and his wife Peggy were married at Union Baptist 39 years ago.

A free-will offering will be taken at the festival concert.