Plectoria plays music of the season at Mohr
If you talk to people closely connected with the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library, they’ll quickly point out that The Friends of Mohr is without question a valuable arm for Johnston’s only public library.
The Friends mission is to plan and run book sales and other fund-raising activities to allow Mohr Library officials to increase services and programs.
Last Thursday evening the Friends presented Plectoria, a unique musical trio featuring a mandolin and two guitarists that, despite having been reduced two players because of an injury, proved to be quite a holiday happening.
“Their performance was sparkling,” offered Sheila Manney, vice president of the Friends’ unique non-profit. “The mandolin is a magical instrument; folks definitely enjoyed the performance and it seemed as though the audience didn’t want to leave.”
Manney, who along with Friends President Helen Antonizio was “highly-impressed” with the performances of mandolin player and Johnston native Maria Magnelli-Arsenault and guitarist Mike Magnelli, said, “Two women in the audience were particularly enthralled and asked if the group would be coming back.”
That’s because Plectoria’s program included 12 traditional Christmas songs beginning with Santa Claus is Coming to Town and winding down with the highly-acclaimed White Christmas.
What also impressed the appreciative audience about the free performance was a unique sing-a-long for traditional tunes like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells.
Yet another highlight of what Antonizio called “a wonderful evening” came when Magnelli-Arsenault and Magnelli mingled with the audience who were munching on refreshments provided by the Friends of Mohr Library.
“Tonight was special in so many ways,” Antonizio said before thanking the talented musicians and wishing them a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. “The night was full of joy and friendship; just a perfect holiday night!”
