According to a press release from Ponta Delgada Town Hall, 14 informal musical groups from various parishes in the municipality will come to Praça do Município from January 31 to February 1 to celebrate the traditional “Singing to the Stars.”

The program starts with the group from the São Sebastião Intergenerational Centre at 14:30 (2:30PM), followed by the Municipal ATL Network with the Linhares Furtado School from 17:30 (5:30PM).

The following day, Saturday, from 6pm, the initiative will include the participation of the “A Colmeia” teaching cooperative, the Colégio do Castanheiro, the Ponta Delgada Regional Conservatory, the “Vozes ao entardecer” Choir Group from the Senior Academy of the University of the Azores, the Covoada Star Singing Group, the Feteiras Star Singing Group, the São Miguel Folklore Group, the Orquestra da Bretanha, the Ilha Verde Folklore Group, the Fajã de Baixo Folklore Group, the Ginetes Star Singing Group, and the São José Star Singing Group.

At the ceremony, organized by the Ponta Delgada municipality, the groups will sing before the executive, evoking various quatrains in the form of greetings, thanks or challenges.

For the mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, quoted in the same press release, “it is with great joy and deep pride that we gather on this special evening to ‘Sing to the Stars’. This is a moment when we celebrate not only the beauty of the sky that covers us, but also the unity, tradition and spirit of our community. May this celebration be a reflection of the brilliance of each one of us and our commitment to preserving and valuing what makes us unique.”

After the performances, the groups are invited to the Salão Nobre of the Paços do Concelho for a moment of conviviality and refreshments.

From Diário da lagoa–Clife Botelho, 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 at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso-American Education Foundation for sponsoring NOVIDADES.