SUNDAY 3/15: Sound of Music Granddaughter von Trapp Performs at Hungars Church

Hungars Music Ministry presents a free concert by Elisabeth Von Trapp on Sunday, March 15, at 4 p.m. at Hungars Episcopal Church, 10107 Bayside Road in Machipongo. The event is open to the public. For more information, please call 757-678-7837 or visit www.hungarscureparish.org.

Von Trapp is the granddaughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, inspiration for The Sound of Music musical and movie. Whether they were from the baroque instruments and four-part harmonies of the family choir, the legendary Trapp Family Singers, a classical symphony on the turntable or songs played on the diverse collection of musical instruments in the living room — piano, cello, guitars, ukulele, accordion, recorders, dulcimer or zither — music was always present.

Von Trapp’s voice has been heard from the subway platforms of New York City and small folk clubs and concert halls to the White House, National Cathedral and the Kennedy Center. She has released five self-produced albums, and her music has been featured on BBC-Radio, Japanese National Radio and CNN Spanish Radio. She has appeared on CBS’ Eye on People, ABC’s Good Morning America and BBC-TV.

Hungars Episcopal Church’s history dates back to 1623, making it the third oldest church congregation in America.  After the Revolutionary War, the church was unused for nearly 40 years and was stripped of its colonial furnishings. It was repaired in 1819 and used again until 1850, when it was declared unsafe for use. A contractor from Snow Hill, MD, Thomas Stevenson, salvaged the building by shortening it and closing the side doors, replacing them with two new doors in the west wall. The present interior was completed in 1892. The oak floor was laid in 1922. In 1950, lighting and central heat were added, the south vesting room enclosed, and a brick floor was laid in the vestibule. Recent improvements include air conditioning added in 1985, a brick walkway to the parish house and a memorial pulpit completed in 1991. Repainting and wood work restoration was done in 1992. The new custom-built grand pipe organ that dominates the gallery was designed with 13 stops to accommodate the intricacies of the music in the Episcopal liturgy. The result is a sound with warmth and clarity that made its debut in March 2013.