Christmas concert celebrates 25 years

Each year, as December rolls around in Valley Stream, many local residents start preparing for the Christmas season. There are tree lightings and opportunities to meet Santa Claus, but for hundreds of people, one event has rung in the season unlike any other for the last quarter-century: the Holy Name of Mary Church Christmas Concert.

The 25th anniversary concert will take place on Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m. at Holy Name and feature the Adult Chorale, Hispanic Choir, Filipino Choir and Folk Group.

Kevin Faughey has been a parish music director for 50 years and has been at Holy Name for the last 25. When he arrived in Valley Stream, he decided to start the Christmas concert as a way “for people to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ” in a fun environment.

Soon after his arrival, he founded the church’s Adult Chorale with about 10 people. For the first concert, he brought in a string quartet to accompany his choir and in the second year, he added a folk group that had more of a contemporary sound.

During the first few years, Faughey said, the crowds weren’t very big — about 150 people the first year — but now the concert routinely attracts more than 500 people.

For the last 10 years, he added, the concert has featured four acts. A Hispanic choir and a Filipino choir were founded and each has a loyal following. Each group has its own director, including Faughey’s Adult Chorale, which kicks off each concert on stage.

Felicia Lotti, who has lived in Valley Stream for 27 years, has been a member of the Adult Chorale for all 25 years. During her time in the choir, she said, she’s picked up a number of singing techniques and developed strong friendships. She can recall the first few Christmas concerts when the crowd sizes were small and credits Faughey with its growth and popularity.

Although Lotti said she never thought she’d join a choir, she’s glad she did. “It’s a really integral part of my life and it’s an integral part of my spiritual life,” she said. “It’s not a hobby, it’s something that has spiritual value to me.”