Hear 'Sounds of the Season' one last time

• WHAT: Sounds of the Season Benefit Performance
• WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Jan. 8
• WHERE: St. Mary’s Church, 429 Central Ave., Sandusky
• COST: Free will offering to benefit Community Supper Program
• INFO: 419-656-5543

Finally you can breathe a sigh of relief — the holiday rush is over. Celebrate your newfound relaxation by enjoying a beautiful concert with all proceeds going towards a great cause. 

Arlene Eishen Strohl, Timothy Claubaugh Sr. and Ardis Hartley Billey are all Sandusky natives and Sandusky High School alumni. Strohl is a professional vocalist and private vocal instructor, as well as the Data Service Manager for The Huron Playhouse. Claubaugh has been the Music Director of St. Mary’s Church since 1982. Billey is a professional harpist and performs solo and in orchestras on a regular basis.

“The three of us have known each other since high school, and Arlene thought it would be a neat idea if the three of us did a concert together,” Claubaugh said. “Arlene was the one who spearheaded the idea. Ardis and I agreed, hence the concert.”

That’s what founded the basis for the benefit performance at St. Mary’s Church featuring the beautiful sounds of the season. Strohl, Claubaugh and Billey will perform all of the compositions.

“We will be performing Christmas music since we’re still in the Christmas season,” Claubaugh told us. (In the Catholic Church, the Christmas season lasts until January 9, 2012).

“Some pieces will cover all three of us,” Strohl explained, “and then some will be harp solos or organ and piano solos. It will all be beautiful arrangements of traditional Christmas songs.”

Billey will be playing the harp, Claubaugh will be playing the piano and organ and Strohl will be singing soprano. You’ll find the melodies ringing in your ears to be lovely, relaxing and heartfelt. 

“The church is a wonderful place to perform,” Strohl said. “It’s a beautiful setting.”

The cost to attend this concert is a free will offering that will be taken to benefit the Community Supper Program at St. Mary’s Parish. The program prepares and serves food to those in need once a week and consists of teams of volunteers who help to cook, bake and serve the food. If you'd like to become a volunteer, you can contact the parish at 419-625-7465.

“We’re not making any profit from this concert,” Strohl said. “We just want to give something back to the community.”