The convent of Santo António, in Lagoa, will host the Grupo de Cantares Tradicionais de Santa Cruz’s Christmas cantata on December 27 at 21h00. This Christmas moment also marks the celebration of the 28th anniversary of this musical group.
Founded in December 1996, the Grupo de Cantares Tradicionais de Santa Cruz was the joint initiative of Clemente Cabral Raimundo, Maria da Conceição Tavares Martins Ponte, Maria de Lurdes Soares Ventura, Rosa Maria Silva Almeida Borges and Durval Manuel de Sousa Arruda.
Its creation arose from a spontaneous initiative by this group of Santacruz residents during the Christmas festivities. Its initial aim was to add a special touch of color to Christmas in Lagoa, promoting the ancient tradition of wishing friends and family a Merry Christmas.
On April 14, 2000, the group was formally established as an association. In 2009, the Grupo de Cantares de Santa Cruz was awarded a medal of merit by the Lagoa Municipal Council. In 2018, they also received this distinction from the Santa Cruz Parish Council. The Grupo de Cantares de Santa Cruz comprises 39 members, with Álvaro Cabral as artistic director and Fernando Jorge Moniz as president.
They have already released three CDs: “Ilhas de Encanto” in 2009, “Germinações” in 2018, and Músicas de Natal in 2022.
It should be noted that, in addition to the normal activity planned for 2025, this group will be touring Águeda as part of an exchange with the Bustelo/Águeda Singing Group.

In Correio dos Açores-Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks the Luso-American Education Foundation for sponsoring FILAMENTOS.