THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT WAKE FOREST!! Approximately 300 area residents braved the dark skies and joined us for the Six Sundays in Spring Centennial Concert.
Wake Forest's 2009 Centennial Celebration got off to a rousing start on Dec. 31, 2008 with First Light Wake Forest and continued with the wildly popular Party of the Century on Feb. 20 with the Six Sundays in Spring Centennial Concert featuring the Wake Forest Singers on April 19.
For the first time since its inception, the Six Sundays in Spring concert series will be held someplace other than the Wake Forest College Birthplace -which served as the series' home for many years. After an extremely successful run, the concerts grew in popularity to the point that organizers decided a larger venue was needed.
Organizers hoped E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, would be ready in time to host the concert series this year. Unfortunately, construction delays will prevent the park from being open until some time this summer. As a result, all of the Six Sundays in Spring concerts will be held at Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave.
The Wake Forest Singers, directed by Ginger Graves, headlined the Centennial Concert and performed "Music Through the Decades". Accompanist Susan Moss, guest musician Greg Smith and 29 voices performed selections that included The Impossible Dream, Down by the Old Mill Stream, Alexanders Ragtime Band, Dear Old Wake Forest, Unchained Melody, Dancing Queen, What a Wonderful World and You Raise Me Up and more. Narrator, Doug Buttram, provided special narration explaining the significance of each piece and how it relates to the history of Wake Forest.
The concert also featured the 21-piece Wake Forest-Rolesville High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Shannon Norman, as well as other local musicians.
Artwork created by Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club members, as well as art students from Sunflower Studio and the Flaherty Park Community Center was on display. The artwork depicting locomotives and Wake Forest Railroad Crossings was included in a special art contest.
Centennial Celebration goody bags were handed out throughout the concert and refreshments were served. In addition, a balloon artist and face painter were on hand for both the young and the young at heart.
All centennial merchandise, including Connections...100 Years of Wake Forest History and centennial blankets, were available for purchase at the concert. Attendees also had the opportunity to order an engraved brick paver to be placed in Centennial Plaza - the gateway to the new Wake Forest Town Hall.
Folks who love good music and enjoy visiting with friends and neighbors, packed a blanket and a picnic basket - or purchased delicious food provided by the VFW, Rotary Club of Wake Forest or Blue Star Moms - and joined us at Holding Park on April 19 as we continued Wake Forest's 100th birthday celebration with the Six Sundays in Spring Centennial Concert. Be sure to enjoy all other Six Sundays in Spring concerts every Sunday through May 24. See our Community Calendar for each day's performance information.