First Christian to host afternoon tea
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Northwest Flute Trio poses during a performance at the Charles Johnson Theater in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts building. The trio will be part of the overall performance by the Northwest Flute Choir at the English Afternoon Tea event, which takes place March 26 at the First Christian Church of Maryville. Pictured are, from left: Leah Carlson, William Licop, and Elisa Turner.
After the success of the January Jazz event at First Christian Church, the committee in charge is planning more events just like it.
On March 26, First Christian will be hosting English Afternoon Tea at the church.
Deena Poynter, a member of the church and the event’s organizer, said the idea came about at the January Jazz event.
“I was wondering what else we could do throughout the year, and while serving desserts at January Jazz, I realized we needed to do a dessert event again,” Poynter said. “I wondered what would go right with desserts, and I thought of an English Afternoon Tea.”
To contribute to the ambience of the event, the church has invited the Northwest Missouri State University Flute Choir to perform. Dr. Rebecca Dunnell, a professor of music and the conductor of the Flute Choir, said the choir is a class she offers every spring semester.
“We started 10 years ago,” Dunnell said. “It’s an elective course, and students in the group are a mix of majors, minors, and anyone else who plays flute.
“We have between three to five performances over the course of the semester, including a recital in the Charles Johnson Theater and, this year, a shared recital with the horn ensemble. We also play for events on campus whenever there’s a symposium, a summer music camp, and several other events around campus and the town.”
The Flute Choir consists of nine members in addition to Dr. Dunnell, and will be performing pieces such as “A Gaelic Offering,” “Rose Cottage,” and “The Doubtful Wife,” as well as some Handel. The Flute Trio, made up of advanced students in the group, will also perform a piece during the afternoon.
The group also mixes in performers with alto and bass flutes.
Dunnell said it was always nice to be asked to perform for an event.
“When we can corral each other’s schedules to perform, we jump on the opportunity,” Dunnell said. “This is a nice series of events at the First Christian Church, and we have good friendships with them.
“Several of our students go to that church, Deena (Poynter) is one of our staff pianists, and it just all worked out.”
The English Afternoon Tea event will include desserts and finger sandwiches. There is no dress code, but Poynter suggested dressing up nicely if desired to get the full benefit of the experience of afternoon tea.
Tickets will cost $15 per person, and must be purchased before the event. For tickets and any other information, contact the church during regular office hours, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 660-582-4101.