Christmas Eve at ACC is always filled with beautiful music and this year is no exception.

We start our celebrations with our 5:00 pm Family Service. This family-oriented service will feature members of our Sunday School and Youth Fellowship groups taking us on a journey through the Christmas story through a number of readings. In addition, there will be some family-oriented activities during the service.

During the prelude and postlude, we are pleased once again to welcome Nino Ciampa and his friends to worship at ACC.

Nino Ciampa is a composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader currently studying at The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, majoring in music composition. While attending Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Nino formed an ensemble with his friends dedicated exclusively to playing Latin music called “Nino Ciampa y su Orquesta”.

Since starting college at Hartt he formed a new group, “The Hartt Salsa All-Stars,” which has performed at venues all around Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and even a special performance at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

The group Nino is bringing to play at ACC for tonight’s service unites some of Nino’s closest friends made both in Acton and at The Hartt School and features his mother, soprano Rebecca Cazabón, on lead vocals.

Also, playing during this service is ACC's own Nancy Barnes. Nancy is a frequent pianist for ACC worship services and special events.

She has been playing the piano since the age of five, beginning her musical journey on the Steinway piano that currently resides in Hartman Hall. Majoring in piano and music education, Nancy has dedicated her talents to serving churches, primarily as a substitute pianist, and directing choirs of all kinds.

In addition to her instrumental and directing work, she has been a valued member of the ACC Senior Choir for over 30 years.

Directly before our 8:00 pm Candlelight service, we will have a Concert-Prelude at 7:30 pm. This delightful musical experience has been organized by our Coordinator of Music and Organist, Liz Carley. She has invited several guests to lend their musical talents to this extended prelude. Among the guests are Seelan Manickam playing his trumpet, Emily Stimac on piano, Andrew Stimac playing the flute, Ben Stimac on his guitar, and the soloist vocal efforts of Meredith Hall, a talented soprano. The music program includes many cherished favorites of the season and is sure to be a magnificent precursor to our final Christmas Eve worship service at 8:00 pm.

Staying with us during the 8:00 pm service, Seelan Manickam, of Bala Brass, will lend his talents creating tremendous trumpet tones to our final worship service of the night. This traditional Lessons and Carols service is filled with amazing anthems and charming carols. A native of Canada, Seelan received his BMus. at the University of Victoria and did his graduate work in performance at the Boston Conservatory. A founding member of the award-winning Bala Brass Quintet, Seelan is the principal trumpet of the New England Repertory Orchestra. He is adjunct trumpet faculty at Keene State College and is the music director at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers. 

We hope you join us on this music-filled evening!