The warm glow of candlelight and the timeless beauty of classical holiday music filled United Church on the evening of Dec. 20 as the Candle Concert 3: Holiday Classics enchanted attendees. The event, co-hosted by United Church and New Middletown, featured live performances ranging from Jingle Bells to Silent Night, delighting music lovers and community members alike.
A first collaboration with New Middletown
This third installment in New Middletown’s Candle Concert series marked the store’s first collaboration with the church. Housed in the revived Tompkin’s Building on Main Street—a cherished downtown landmark from 1898 to 1984—New Middletown is dedicated to reviving community culture through music, art, and gatherings.
Pastor Lynn Costa warmly welcomed the crowd to what she called a true “community space.” She expressed gratitude to church members for the beautiful seasonal decorations and to organizer Phil Zhou for crafting a “lovely seasonal venue.” Host Daniel Bay introduced the evening’s performers, including the New Middletown String Quartet, led by first violinist Will Zhou. With over 21 years of professional experience—including world tours with Shen Yun Performing Arts—Zhou brought expressive depth to classics such as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, O Tannenbaum, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, and Joy to the World.
Performances that stir the heart
The program also featured a pipa solo of the traditional Chinese piece Desert Spring by Mina Chiu, intimate chamber duos for oboe and cello, and vocal solos by Kevin Zhang, silver award winner of the International NTD Vocal Competition. Zhang’s powerful performance of Hope Cannot Be Suppressed deeply moved the audience, carrying themes of faith and resilience.
For violinist Will Zhou, the concert was an opportunity “to connect with the community… and bring community together” in the season of giving. He hoped the audience carried away “a sense of togetherness” and a reminder that the arts unite people “regardless of who you are.”
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Performing in a church for the first time, vocalist Kevin Zhang described the venue as “a pure place in society.” He explained the personal significance of Hope Cannot Be Suppressed, which reflects steadfast commitment to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Zhang wished for the crowd to leave feeling happy and motivated “to be more kindly to others… to make this society more peaceful.”
Attendees share holiday spirit
Attendees described the evening as filled with warmth and holiday spirit. Loyal fans Michelle Bennett and Matthew Robansky, present at all three concerts, called it “incredible” and “amazing,” saying it “brought a whole lot of holiday spirit.” They especially praised the sense of “community and coming together… just coming together with friends and family.”
Visitor Angela Lee found the candlelit setting evocative, noting it brought “harmony, the peace, the beautifulness” while stirring memories of learning Christmas songs during her high school years in Taiwan.
A message of faith, love, and community
Pastor Costa highlighted how “music and worship and faith come together in a wonderful way,” and stressed the church’s commitment to cultural events: “Whether it’s art, whether it’s dance… it is part and parcel of what all of this community is.” Her message for Middletown this Christmas was clear: “It’s the message of love… the love that was brought into the world by God through Jesus Christ, is our love to share with each other.”
Through concerts like this, New Middletown has raised thousands of dollars for local charities while nurturing joy and connection. As the final notes faded and candles continued to flicker, the evening left everyone with a renewed sense of holiday warmth and community unity.
Merry Christmas!
