THOMASTON — Down East Singers will collaborate with Halcyon String Quartet, accordionist Delmar Small and pianist Jennifer McIvor in a multimedia concert with visual art selected by Luke Fatora entitled "To Maine, With Love" on Friday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Watts Hall, 174 Main Street, Thomaston; and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at Rockport Opera House. Anthony Antolini of Cushing will conduct the concerts.

The performances will feature the premiere of Maine composer Marianna Filippi's "To Maine, With Love," which was commissioned by Down East Singers for Maine's bicentennial in 2020 but not performed at that time due to the pandemic. The text of Filippi's composition is by Maine poet Megan Grumbling.

The concerts will begin with Antonio Vivaldi's immortal "Gloria" with soloists Robyn Tarantino, Hayden Sears and Ross Faneuf. Halcyon String Quartet will perform works by Hildegard of Bingen, Franz Schubert and Caroline Shaw. The finale will be Delmar Dustin Small's comic medley of Christmas carols entitled "Wreathe the Holly, Twine the Bay."

Composer Marianna Filippi grew up in the Midcoast area and is an alumna of Riley School in Rockport. In 2023 she earned her Master of Music Degree from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark. Composer and arranger Delmar Small graduated from Bates College. His oratorio "As It Began to Dawn" was performed by Down East Singers in 2014. Halcyon String Quartet is a Maine-based ensemble that combines interdisciplinary or multimedia components with their repertoire, drawing upon word, art and music to tell stories relevant to the community.

Admission is $25. Those 18 and younger are admitted free, but must have a ticket. Tickets are available on the group's website, downeastsingers.org, or at the door on the performance date, if any are left.

Following the Rockport performance, the drawing for a raffle will take place. Raffle tickets, $10 each, are available from members of Down East Singers. Prizes include round-trip airfare from Rockland to Boston on Cape Air for two, a $100 gift certificate from Bee Wild Farmacy in Rockport, and a household membership to the Owls Head Transportation Museum.

For further information call 207-619-0413.