Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • November 17, 2010 �������������������������� Music director honored for 25 years of service The Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff recently honored Music Director Manfred Knoop for 25 years of service to the parish with a weekend-long anniversary celebration. The celebration included a special Mass in his honor on Saturday, and a choral concert and reception on Sunday afternoon. Two of the major choral groups involved in the music ministry of the church, the Saint Elizabeth Festival Chorale and the Spirit Group, performed in the concert accompanied by a full orchestra. The program included a retrospective of the many kinds of music performed by these groups throughout the years as a component of church services, in concerts at the church and throughout the metropolitan region, and during choral singing trips to Europe. Tributes to Knoop followed the choral program along with a reception attended by over 200 parishioners and invited guests. Speakers praised Knoop’s extraordinary talents as a choral director, musician, conductor, and composer, and the remarkable contributions he has made through his passion for music and commitment to making music an integral component of the Saint Elizabeth faith community. Knoop, who was born in Germany, came to the United States in 1975 and attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned two degrees while specializing in organ, piano, trumpet, vocal performance, and conducting. What followed has been a lifetime of outstanding achievement. After serving as music director for Saint Luke’s Church in Ho-Ho-Kus, Knoop became director of music at Saint Elizabeth’s Church in 1985. He is a former choral director for the Ridgewood Singers and continues to be the choral director of two German-American singing groups, Sangerchor Newark and Schwabisher Sangerbund, a position he has held for over 25 years. He has managed to pursue his passion for conducting by leading many local and regional groups, most Music Director Manfred Knoop (center) with Parochial Vicar Fr.Roberto Ortiz, who planned a Mass in Manfred’s honor, and Pastor Msgr.Robert E. Harahan, who celebrated the Mass and gave a tribute. recently serving as a guest conductor for the National Gallery Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Knoop resides in River Edge with his wife, Birgit, and his twin children, Nicholas and Kira. The Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce’s Santa Comes to Wyckoff and Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Friday, Dec. 3. (Rain date: Dec. 6.) The community is invited to share the magic of the tree lighting, visit with Santa, and enjoy refreshments and holiday music. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by fire truck to meet and greet children and their families at the following locations: Cedar Hill Plaza, 4 p.m.; Wyckoff Shopping Center, 5 p.m.; Main Street, 5:45 ‘Santa Comes to Wyckoff’ p.m.; Mayflower Shopping Center, 6 p.m.; Wyckoff Square Shopping Center, 6:45 p.m.; Boulder Run Shopping Center, 7 p.m.; and Wyckoff Town Hall for the tree lighting at 7:45 p.m. Please note: Santa will not be getting off the truck at Main Street and Wyckoff Square Shopping Center. For more event information, contact Marie Kidd at (201) 848-4545 or www. wyckoffchamber.com. Whimsical, Unique, One of a Kind Finds • Hostess & Teacher Gifts • Home Furnishings • Decorative Accessories • Vera Bradley And Don’t Forget Our “Outstanding” Gift Wrapping • 648 Wyckoff Avenue – Wyckoff – 201-848-5633 • One Stop Shopping Eurica ����������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ��������������� ���������������� ������ ������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������� �������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������� � ��������������������������������������������������� �������������������������