McGRATHPR.com – First Congregational Church of Hanover (FCCH) presents the Cranberry Brass Quintet performing a “Festive Holiday Concert,” on Sunday, December 3, 3 pm, in the church’s historic sanctuary at 547 Hanover Street, Hanover. Admission is free, free-will donations are gratefully accepted. Refreshments and fellowship immediately follow the performance in the church vestry. FCCH is fully accessible, with parking available in adjacent parking lots.
Conjure up the finest holiday season cheer with Cranberry Brass Quintet’s French horn, trombone, tuba, and trumpets, offering a varied program of traditional and contemporary instrumental Christmas music favorites.
Established in 2018, Cranberry Brass Quintet consists of an ensemble of South Shore region music educators, representing Hanover, Norwell, and Pembroke public schools’ faculties, as well as Boston Conservatory. The talented group, featuring musicians Sheri Fernandes, French horn, Austin Glass, tuba, Matt Harden, trumpet, John O’Briant, trumpet, and Julienne Thornell, trombone, have been inspired to share their love of music, performing at many venues in the greater Boston area.
To learn about First Congregational Church of Hanover, call 781-826-4762, visit fcchanover.org, or follow First Congregational Church of Hanover on Facebook or Instagram.
About First Congregational Church of Hanover
Founded in 1728, First Congregational Church of Hanover (FCCH) was established about the same time that the town of Hanover was incorporated. A United Church of Christ (UCC) parish, First Congregational Church of Hanover has long been a leader in equality. FCCH is committed to serve as a community of inclusive love that has no walls or barriers, where all who enter are loved, respected, and accepted for who they are, reaching beyond social class, gender, race, and sexual orientation, welcoming all. It is a community of growth and transformation, reaching beyond the status quo as a community filled with the love and compassion of Christ, invoking our faith into action and prayer daily.
First Congregational Church of Hanover’s sanctuary is located at 547 Hanover Street, Hanover. FCCH offices are located at Riley Hall, 17 Silver Street, Hanover. For more information, call 781-826-4762, visit fcchanover.org or follow First Congregational Church of Hanover on Facebook or Instagram.
About Cranberry Brass Quintet’s Performing Artists
Sheri Fernandes, French horn, is a native of Southeastern Massachusetts, committed to the field of music education. Fernandes served as Director of Music, and High School Band and Chorus Director in East Bridgewater before joining the faculty at Boston Conservatory. In addition to teaching music theory, ear training, and various graduate courses at the Conservatory, Fernandes is the Department Chair of Music Theory. Fernandes is also the director of the Apponequet Regional High School Marching Band and the Apponequet Summer Sing Program, both in the Freetown-Lakeville School District.
Fernandes is an active freelance horn player and performs regularly with numerous orchestra, band, and chamber ensembles throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She is also an active composer and arranger for several ensembles in the area. Fernandes currently resides near her hometown in southeastern Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and son where she maintains a small private studio for horn, trumpet, voice, and theory lessons.
Austin Glass, tuba, received his Bachelor of Music Education from The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford and a Master of Music Performance from Yale University. Austin is in his nineteenth year as the Band Director at Pembroke High School where he teaches Honors Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, 9th Grade Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Music Theory, Guitar Class, and conducts the pit orchestra for their annual musical. He enjoys playing bass guitar in the praise band at Sanctuary Church in Marshfield on Sunday mornings. Austin resides in Kingston with his wife Andrea, three daughters Lila, Elsie, and Maisy, two dogs, five chickens, two ducks, four rabbits, and three goats.
Matt Harden, trumpet, serves as the K-12 Department Chair for Fine & Performing Arts for Hanover Public Schools and Director of Instrumental Music at Hanover High School where he directs the marching band, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. He also teaches AP Music Theory and a variety of music appreciation and technology electives. Mr. Harden is on the faculty of the South Shore Conservatory Summer Music Festival directing the Lab Jazz Ensemble and coaching trumpet. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and he earned his Master of Music from Ithaca College. He is an active trumpeter, composer, arranger, drill designer, and guest conductor.
Mr. Harden serves on the Executive Board of SEMSBA as the Adjudication Coordinator and Webmaster and serves as Jazz Chair and President of the MMEA Southeastern District. Mr. Harden lives in Whitman with his wife Maegan, his sons Adam and Elliot, and their dogs Arya and Tyrion.
John O’Briant, trumpet, has taught instrumental music at Norwell High School since 2006, where he also serves as the K-12 Arts and Wellness Curriculum Coordinator. He has degrees in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting from Connecticut College and Radford University, and he lives in Pembroke with his wife, son and dog.
Julienne Thornell, trombone, has served as a public school music educator since 1996, and is in her 23rd year as the Band Director at Hanover Middle School. Julienne received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Hartwick College, and her master’s in education from UMASS Boston. Julienne has been on the faculty of South Shore Conservatory (SSC), teaching low brass since 2013, and coached and directed ensembles at SSC’s Summer Music Festival.
As a trombonist, Julienne performs regularly with area theaters, orchestras, chamber groups, and jazz ensembles. In addition to playing with SheBop Swing Orchestra and Disco Dream, she has performed with Riverside Theatre Works, The Company Theatre, Priscilla Beach Theatre, Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, Longwood Symphony, Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Brockton Symphony Orchestra, and Metropolitan Wind Symphony. Juli lives in Marshfield with her husband Peter, and twins Abby and Cooper.
