Shrewsbury, MA — The Assabet Valley Mastersingers (AVM) is thrilled to announce its March
2026 concert in Shrewsbury, which features James Whitbourn’s “Annelies”, a composition
based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. This performance will stand as a tribute to
Holocaust survivors honoring voices of resilience, memory, and hope.

Event Date: March 8th, 2026
Time: 3:30pm
Location: Robert R. Jay Performing Arts Center (378 Main Street), Shrewsbury, MA
Artistic Director: Dr. Robert Eaton
Soprano: Jess Huetteman

About the Event
“Annelies” is a 75-minute choral work for soprano soloist, choir and instrumentalists that was
composed by British composer James Whitbourn. The libretto is compiled and translated by
Melanie Challenger from The Diary of Anne Frank. Movements from Annelies were first
performed at the National UK Holocaust Memorial Day in Westminster Hall in London in January
of 2005 and the world premiere of “Annelies” was given on April 5th, 2005 at the Cadogan Hall,
London.
The piece is divided into fourteen movements and there will be no intermission during this
performance. In addition to choral and soprano soloist scoring, the instrumental portion is
scored for both larger full symphony orchestra and a smaller chamber version. AVM will perform
the version scored for a full orchestra which is rare. The last time the work was publicly
performed was in 2022 by Princeton Pro Musica.
James Whitbourn passed away in early 2024 and “Annelies” remains one of his most renowned
compositions. In fact, a recording by the Westminster Williamson Voices in 2014 was nominated
for a Grammy award under the Best Choral Performance category, which was one of four
Grammy nominations for Whitbourn during his lifetime. This performance of “Annelies” is
enriched by remarks from Holocaust survivors, honoring their voices and enduring resilience.

Ticket Information:
● General Admission: $25.00
● Senior/Student Price: $20.00
● Children under 12 are free with an accompanying adult.

Tickets can be purchased online at .https://www.avmsingers.org/events/lest-we-forget.
AVM is part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program, which grants
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders access to steeply discounted tickets from a variety
of arts, humanities, and science organizations across the Commonwealth. Cardholders may
order up to four tickets online by applying the promo code MASSCTOC and selecting manual
payment type. The same discounted costs, $5.00 for general or $4.00 for senior/student
admission, are payable at the concert for preordered, or onsite-requested CTOC tickets

A passion for snowboarding led Brian Yun, of Lexington, to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Fascinated by the design and manufacturing process of the equipment, he was inspired to return to school. While working toward his program of study, Yun completed an electronics course at Middlesex Community College fully funded by Metallica’s Foundation, All Within My Hands, through the Metallica Scholars Initiative. The programs are providing him with the knowledge he needs to one day join an engineering design team.
“The Metallica Scholars Program has given me the opportunity to learn more about electrical components and how they come together through soldering,” Yun said “It’s been a lot of fun learning how to solder different components onto a circuit board, and this experience has helped me better understand how electronics work. Opportunities like this course make MCC stand out as a place that truly invests in its students.”
In the Summer of 2022, Middlesex was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000. With the initial and other rounds of funding, MCC’s Corporate Education and Training division offers an electronics course to teach participants the knowledge and skills they need to be hired into entry-level positions in the advanced manufacturing field.
As part of the course, Yun appreciated learning from professionals who have experience working in the engineering industry. In addition to gaining hands-on experience in his field, he received guidance, feedback and personal stories from his instructors. This provided more insight into what he can expect from his future career.
“This course has benefited me tremendously by creating a deeper curiosity about how electronic devices are manufactured,” Yun said. “It’s given me valuable hands-on experience in soldering and inspection, and it’s helped me think more critically about how electronics function and are built to last.”
Through the course, Yun learned skills that also apply to his associate degree program. He also gained a stronger understanding of the high-reliability manufacturing and engineering environments. The course included access to career advising, professional development, and MCC’s student support services such as free tutoring.
“I hope to continue gaining hands-on experience and further develop my understanding of high precision electronics,” Yun said. “Soldering has been a lot of fun, and I’m excited to see where this opportunity can take me, possibly toward building and designing more complex and exciting technologies in the future.”
Yun chose to come to Middlesex because of the affordable cost and the opportunities a community college education provides. With flexible schedules, he can continue to build his career while completing his degree. Learning in an environment with small class sizes and supportive professors also help him stay motivated as he reaches his goals.
After he graduates from Middlesex, Yun plans to transfer to a four-year school to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Calling his time at MCC “amazing,” he credits the college for helping him turn his interest and former experience working in snowboarding into a future engineering career.
“Middlesex Community College provides the education I need to achieve my goals while remaining affordable and accessible,” he said. “MCC has given me both the educational foundation and the hands-on opportunities I need to succeed.”

Visit https://www.middlesex.edu/corporate/metallica.html for more information.