A big thanks to Judy Collins, our sponsors and all of our volunteers that made our Judy Collins Christmas in Vermont fundraising event a huge success! The article below is from THE MANCHESTER JOURNAL.

A Judy Collins Christmas in Vermont ... how sweet it was

by Anita Sandler

Some stars shine brighter than other stars, and Judy Collins' star was shining brightly, brilliantly, as she shared her light with all those lucky enough to be in the sold out audience Sunday at the Judy Collins Christmas Benefit for Clear Path International at the Dorset Playhouse.

The house lights dimmed then went black and an angelic voice filled the space of the Playhouse with a sound pure and clear enough to take the breathe away. Collins' voice is the same, only richer than when I first heard her in the folk days of the 60's and 70's.

Then the lights went up and the Dorset Church Choir was poised to sing, waiting for Collins to enter dressed in a long white satin gown, with her long glorious white hair, a picture of grace and elegance looking like a snow goddess, the perfect package to accompany the perfect voice. Playing her 12-string signature Martin guitar she began with "Joy to The World." In spite of a false start - she joked about it later as a momentary lapse of memory - a truly joyful noise erupted, blending Collins' voice with the dynamic of the choir. Jane Wood, the choir's competent musical director, and the choir members were obviously thrilled to be part of the evening's performance. Collins often looked over her shoulder to acknowledge them. In fact, she was so thrilled singing with the choir two years ago at her first Clear Path Benefit, that she asked for them back this year.



Collins' gift of compassion and giving was the reason she was in Dorset, to raise awareness and financial aid for Clear Path International, the philanthropic organization based in Dorset which helps the victims and families of those who have died or have been maimed by the unexploded bombs and landmines. The Founders of Clear Path were at the concert, several having just returned from Asia. James Hathaway spoke briefly about the cause.
Judy's political banter was appreciated and applauded by the audience. Her jokes and stories were all delivered with a gleam in her eye and a slight smile that pulled you right into her circle. She talked of her past, her musical history, her family and her politics, all with the ease of a friend sharing her life. She immediately made the audience feel comfortable. She laughed at herself, at politics, at aging. In every story there was a joy in the moment - that was what she intimately shared. She was truly present in the moment.
Collins' music director Russel Warden, accompanied her on the piano and was an important element in creating the night's musical perfection. Judy moved easily from guitar to piano and back but when she took the microphone in hand to sing Steven Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns," a performance for which she won a Grammy, you felt you were in the presence of perfection. Throughout the evening she interspersed her hit songs with her favorite Christmas songs, all sung with the Dorset Church Choir. It was wonderful hearing "Both Sides Now" and "Chelsea Morning" again, sounding the same if not better than when she first recorded them. She sang the first song she ever wrote and the last song she wrote, accompanying herself masterfully on the grand piano. The words of both songs were equally poetic and powerful, the first speaking of love between a man and a woman; and her last song searching for a more spiritual connection with life. Her main message was "believe in your dreams," something Judy Collins obviously knows a lot about.
When the concert ended and we walked back out into the warm Vermont night there was a communal feeling of having been given a precious gift - Judy Collins herself. What a world we live in that matches an artist and philanthropist like Judy Collins with a great cause like Clear Path, sending love, compassion and dollars to other parts of the world. Clear Path was the true star of the evening. With people like Judy Collins to inspire and elevate us, maybe we all made a difference just by raising our voices with Judy and The Dorset Church Choir in singing "Amazing Grace." How sweet the sound.
Anita Sandler is an artist, musician and freelance writer living in Manchester.