Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024 CONCERT | FROM Page 3 Marra also emphasized that the food drive that is associated with the concert is named in his father’s memory. “Of course, we all love the music and the holiday excitement that comes with the concert, but the food drive makes it special because it exemplifi es the true meaning of the holidays, the sense of sharing and helping others,” he said. “When the people who come to the concert fi ll up the hundreds of boxes with food, it magnifi es the generosity of the businesses that sponsor the concert.” The concert annually raises nearly three tons of food that is donated and distributed through the Revere Food Pantry at First Congregational Church. “We have members of the St. Anthony’s Holy Name Society, the church’s Faith Formation students, and members of the Revere High football team who all volunteer to pack the food and load it into a truck provided by Mike Zaccaria at Action Emergency Services,” said Bocchino. “It’s real community teamwork.” The annual “Sounds of Christmas” concert tradition dates to 1976 when NSPO played a holiday concert at Revere High School as part of the city’s celebration of the nation’s bicentennial. The concert moved to St. Anthony’s The North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the Robert A. Marra Memorial “Sounds of Christmas” concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Church. sanctuary the following year. “The concert was a tremendous success right from the start. Every year someone tells me how this concert has been part of their family tradition for so many years.” In addition to the musical part of the program, the concert features an original essay written and narrated by a Revere High School student. “We started this in 2016 and it has been very well-received,” said Marra. “It’s a chance to have a student’s voice deliver a meaningful message. And it ties Revere High to the concert, something my father would appreciate.” This year’s concert will feature RHS senior Sarah Bruno. The concert is named in memory of violinist Robert A. Marra, a lifelong Revere resident and teacher at Revere High School who was concertmaster of the Orchestra for over 50 years before his death in 2002. The audience that packs St. Anthony’s is as much a joy for the Orchestra as the concert is for the patrons. Marra noted, “At this time of year, musicians can be pretty busy, and it is demanding work, but they all love coming to Revere where the audience is so attentive and enthusiastic.” The “Sounds of Christmas” Concert will feature soprano Christina Ackroyd. The 10-part program will include “American Christmas Folk Suite,” Nutcracker Selections, “Hanukkah Medley” and “Christmas Singalong” as well as “A Holiday Message” from RHS student Sarah Bruno. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net
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