Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble ‘Bon Voyage’ concert Sunday

Before setting sail on their European tour, the Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble will host a “Bon Voyage” concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 10 at the First United Methodist Church, 344 E. Morton Ave.

The concert is a thank you gift to the community for their years of support. There is no admission charge for the concert, and a free-will offering will be taken to help offset concert expenses.

Sunday’s concert will feature American folk songs and spirituals like “Cindy” and “Ain’t Got Time to Die” as well folk songs representative of areas in the United Kingdom they will be visiting, such as “Skye Boat Song,” “Loch Lomond” and “Molly Malone,” the unofficial theme song of Dublin, Ireland.

“Sierra Vocal Arts Ensemble is dedicated to the advancement and performance of the highest quality diverse choral music,” said founder and conductor Fred knutson. “We believe in the experience of creating beautiful music and sharing our passion and the cultural heritage expressed in the music with our audiences.”

The ensemble will embark on its third overseas concert tour on June 14. The traveling group will visit Ireland, England, and Scotland during their twoweek tour.

They will visit and perform concerts in Chester and York, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. The ensemble will also visit the cities of Dublin and Galway in Ireland.

Other highlights of the tour will include visits to the Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland, Haworth Parsonage (home of the Bronte family), Stoke-on-trent in England, Hadrian’s Wall and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

The activities of the ensemble over the years have included lavish Victorian Christmas Feasts with a professional chef and entertainment provided by dancer, jugglers, bagpipers and character actors from Hollywood.

The ensemble has also been honored to welcome noted American stage and screen actor Ned Beatty as a guest narrator for the event.

The members of the ensemble quickly organized a memorial concert fundraiser in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, raising over $3,500 to contribute to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.