25th anniversary celebration: Paul Winter concert, dinner at the farm

Wednesday, 25 August 2010 12:25

World-renowned musician Paul Winter returns to New Pond Farm on Sunday, Sept. 12, for a special Consort concert to honor the 25th anniversary of the education center where he once lived in the 1970s in a cottage on the site.

As his friend Carmen Mathews was establishing her New Pond Farm Foundation, the Paul Winter Consort gave a benefit concert and returned in 1988 to support this outdoor classroom and working farm.

On the afternoon of Sept. 12, the farm’s open pastures will once again be filled with the melodies and rhythms of this Grammy Award-winning group. And afterwards, concert-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy the farm’s home-grown fare along with organic wines at the evening’s Harvest Celebration.

Paul Winter and the Consort are known for their rich sound textures and distinctive blend of the instrumental voices. Their recorded sounds from the natural world are “interwoven with classical and ethnic traditions, the whole infused with the spontaneous spirit of jazz.”

Mr. Winter’s Web site states that the Consort has performed more than 2,000 concerts in major concert halls of the Americas, Europe and Asia, in major cathedrals such as Washington’s National Cathedral and in such places as the White House, the Grand Canyon, the Negev Desert in Israel and the palace of the Crown Prince of Japan. In recognition of his musical contributions to the environment, he has been honored with many prestigious music awards, in addition to multiple Grammys.

Twenty-five years ago, actress Carmen Mathews opened the doors to New Pond Farm Education Center. Since that time, her 102-acre property with its 2.5 miles of trails has served as an outdoor classroom for more than 12,000 students of all ages each year. Hands-on programs feature freshwater ecology, habitat hunts, beekeeping, astronomy, maple sugaring, native American history, and the rhythms of a working farm. In the summertime, the Education Center hosts a camp that brings together children from the inner cities of Danbury, Bridgeport and Norwalk with youngsters from the Redding area who explore what the farm has to offer, build friendships and understandings.

In 1995, Ms. Mathews gave a conservation easement on 80 acres to the Redding Land Trust. A devoted steward of the land, she wanted her property to serve as a model for enlightened land use. She believed “Small is beautiful.”

New Pond works to keep its livestock, pastures and gardens in balance. Its chickens are free-range, cows graze beyond the barnyard and sheep browse the hillside. After 25 years, the farm’s release says Ms. Mathews’ dream has been realized.

On Sept. 12, the concert takes place from 4 to 6 p.m.; the Harvest Celebration from 6 to 7:30 in the pastures of New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Rd. The rain venue is the First Church of Christ, Congregational, 29 Cross Hwy.

For the concert only, tickets are: Adults $30; children 16 and under, $10. Combined concert and Harvest Celebration tickets: Adults $60; children 16 and under $20. The concert and the dinner are recommended for children 12 and older.

The farm advises participants to bring lawn chairs and blankets. There will be limited seating available for seniors. Call the farm about this seating.

The farm asks that dogs be left at home.

For registration and more information, call 203-938-2117 or visit New Pond Farm’s Web site: www.newpondfarm.org.

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