WSWNE Celebrates the Season with Christmas Lunch
by Margaret Korhonen
Note: the full Stringwynde post-luncheon concert video follows the event description below.
Group of friends enjoying being together at the luncheon- Photo by Wayne Korhonen.
Stringwynde, Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher and Melanie Chirignan - Photo by Wayne Korhonen.
Members and friends of the Welsh Society of Western New England celebrated the start of the Christmas season with a luncheon at the Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield, Massachusetts on December 2, 2023.
With the restaurant cozily decorated for the holidays and Welsh trimmings added around the room, guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers while chatting to old and new friends. Always a good way to reignite friendships and catch up on the happenings in people’s lives, everyone enjoyed the social hour and relaxing into the holiday spirit.
Evan Williams wearing her festive hat from Wales - Photo by Wayne Korhonen.
While enjoying the main meal, guests stood and read limericks with Welsh themes. These included three winning limericks from this year’s Eisteddfod competition at the North American Festival of Wales in Lincoln, Nebraska, while others were written by members of our society. Clever these people were, with many a laugh or smile given to the poets themselves. Another part of our Christmas lunch was the popping of Christmas crackers and the enjoyment of the surprises inside: crowns to wear, trinkets to enjoy, and jokes to share with those around the table. Also in the program, one happy winner went home with a gift basket of treats including a Christmas pudding, British jam and relish and a bracelet made by member Susan Meers to honor her son Jason. Two others received gift certificates to the UK Gourmet in Bethel, CT.
During the social hour and then later after lunch, we were entertained by Stringwynde, featuring harpist Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher, of Welsh heritage and a member of WSWNE, and flutist Melanie Chirignan. The duo played Welsh music to the enjoyment of everyone there. The music featured pieces from collections of Welsh tunes gathered by Edward Jones (1752-1824) and Nicholas Bennett (1823 –1899). With pieces ranging from smooth melodies to lively tunes, everyone felt the essence of Wales. The final piece Stringwynde played was the Welsh National Anthem with all there joining in song with the music. All in all, our Christmas Lunch at the Storrowton Inn was a wonderful way to welcome the Christmas season.
See the full Stringwynde concert YouTube Video below:
For more about Stringwynde : Find them on Facebook
Harpist, Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher, is of Welsh heritage, a WSWNE member and a long-time leadership member of the Welsh Society of the Capitol District, Albany, NY . She has studied in Wales and some of her earliest harp lessons were with the famous Welsh triple harpist Robin Huw Bowen. She took third place in the solo soprano competition of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1987. She has conducted many a “Gymanfa Ganu” over the years and continues to study the Welsh language regularly. Darhon has also composed and published many arrangements of Celtic music for solo harp as well as for flute and harp.
Flutist, Melanie Chirignan, joined Darhon in late 2017 to form their duo, Stringwynde. Melanie earned her bachelor's in music performance and music education graduating magna cum laude from SUNY Fredonia and her master’s degree in flute performance at the Hartt School. She has performed solo and in combination with a variety of duos, chamber ensembles, and symphony settings. Currently, she is recording an album of flute and guitar music by women composers with guitarist Scott Hill. Melanie has collaborated extensively with Quintocracy, Stringwynde, jazz bass legend Nat Reeves, traditional Irish harpist Hailey Hewitt, even the Philadelphia Fife and Drum Corps, among others.