SOUTHCOAST FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS AT ST. ANTHONY CHURCH NEW BEDFORD

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Hundreds of singers from across the Southcoast and surrounding region will come together at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. for the inaugural Southcoast Festival of Choirs, an event envisioned by Artistic Director Brian Dean Sousa and presented by Music at Saint Anthony’s. The large-scale Christmas concert will unite community, collegiate and alumni choirs with New Bedford Symphony Orchestra brass and percussion, organist Peter Krasinski, and St. Anthony’s historic 1912 Casavant Frères Opus 489 pipe organ in one of the region’s most remarkable sacred spaces. Participating ensembles include the Salve Regina University Chorus, Falmouth Chorale, Greater New Bedford Choral Society, Sine Nomine, South Coast Community Chorale, New Bedford High School Alumni Choir, and St. Anthony Community Choir. Each choir will perform individually before the ensembles join together as a massed festival choir for a grand program of traditional Christmas carols. Sousa conceived the Southcoast Festival of Choirs as a way to bring together choral organizations from throughout the region in a shared musical celebration while allowing each participating ensemble to retain its own identity. The setting will be an important part of the experience. St. Anthony of Padua Church is renowned for its soaring architecture, richly decorated interior, extensive stained glass by noted artist Guido Nincheri, and its monumental 1912 Casavant Frères pipe organ, Opus 489. During the concert, more than 5,200 lights throughout the church will illuminate the sanctuary and nave, creating a dramatic setting for the music. Organist Peter Krasinski will perform on the historic Casavant instrument and accompany the combined festival forces, together with brass and percussion from the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. The concert will also support the preservation of one of New Bedford’s architectural landmarks. Proceeds will benefit the St. Anthony Church Renovation Fund, which is currently supporting restoration of the exterior wood window frames surrounding the church’s approximately 75-year-old Guido Nincheri stained-glass windows. PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY Parking is available in the neighborhood surrounding St. Anthony Church, with additional parking available at: ● St. Kilian’s Church parking lot ● Immaculate Conception Church parking lots ● Alma del Mar Charter School parking lot A free shuttle service will circulate among the designated parking areas before and after the concert. The church is wheelchair accessible through the Nye Street entrance. Concertgoers are also encouraged to make an evening of their visit to New Bedford by enjoying dinner before the performance at one of the restaurants along Acushnet Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood, many of which offer parking within walking distance of the church. EVENT AT A GLANCE Southcoast Festival of Choirs Presented by Music at Saint Anthony’s Inaugural event envisioned by Artistic Director Brian Dean Sousa Saturday, December 5, 2026 6:30 p.m. St. Anthony of Padua Church 1359 Acushnet Avenue New Bedford, MA 02746 Tickets: $25 in advance Children: Free Featuring ● Salve Regina University Chorus ● Falmouth Chorale ● Greater New Bedford Choral Society ● Sine Nomine ● South Coast Community Chorale ● New Bedford High School Alumni Choir ● St. Anthony Community Choir ● Peter Krasinski, organ ● New Bedford Symphony Orchestra brass and percussion ● 1912 Casavant Frères Pipe Organ, Opus 489 Tickets: https://www.osvhub.com/saintanthonynb/forms/christmasconcert Information: www.saintanthonynb.org | www.musicatsaintanthonys.org ABOUT THE SOUTHCOAST FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

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Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3886476-0

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