Where We Sing

The Interfaith Council of Franklin County's monthly series "Cultivating Connections" aims to foster community in challenging times. Fiery Hope will lead & share songs at the meeting on Monday April 27 at the 2nd Cong. Church, Greenfield, MA. Potluck at 6pm, Fiery Hope sings at 6:30, followed by small group discussion.

Voices soared and fingers flew at Greenfield’s All Souls Church when Fiery Hope appeared in concert with the eclectic artist Malgorzata Lach. Fiery Hope presented new original choral works as well as time-honored fan favorites in languages including Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Kalanga (from Zimbabwe). Lach did delightful triple duty: as a solo classical guitarist, as part of a folk-indy duo with Fiery Hope's director Eveline MacDougall, and in collaboration with the chorus. High-octane selections raised the roof, and we chose other material to soothe souls and inspire hearts in this challenging era.

Lach’s rich contralto was featured in the duo she recently formed with MacDougall, who also sings and plays fiddle, viola, and accordion. Drawing on each of their mother tongues, they named their duo “Deux Panie” (deuh pan-yeh): French for “two” followed by Polish for “women.” They perform material by Tracy Chapman, the Beatles, Indigo Girls, Manuel de Falla, Brandi Carlile, Simon & Garfunkel, Shawn Colvin, Randy Newman, and others. Deux Panie also performs fiddle tunes composed by MacDougall, as well as traditional gems from her family’s native Quebec. Their repertoire is rounded out by tunes from Finnish, Scottish, Swedish, French, Irish, and old-time American traditions.

Partial proceeds from the donate-what-you-can concert support Stone Soup Cafe community meal program.

Fiery Hope sang two songs during the potluck portion of the Franklin County Mutual Aid benefit for local immigrants facing financial emergencies and family separation due to deportation, incarceration, and housing instability.

Fiery Hope singers welcomed potluck attendees with Eveline MacDougall's original composition, "Stranger", inspired by Eveline's mother's experience as an immigrant. We
also followed a chant from members of the New England Peace Pagoda with another MacDougall original, "Peace in Our World", a simple tune repeating the same wish in English, Arabic, and Hebrew: "Salaam aleikum, shalom, peace in our world."

This sememster, Fiery Hope continued to grow in numbers, including much-needed additions to our tenor and bass sections.

On September 20, we sang at the Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton, MA, aided by blue tooth wiring in the performance room's floor that could connect to residents' hearing aids.

On November 13, we performed at the Gill Montague Senior Center in Turners Falls, MA. Our small audience quietly but surely joined Eveline's encouragement to sing along.

For the third year, Eveline lead a Christmas Eve service at All Souls Church in Greenfield, MA. She was joined by Fiery Hope chorus members for Christmas, Solstice, and other heart-felt songs, and she delivered a funny and moving sermon on the best gift she's received and had the opportunity to return in kind.

On December 24th, 2024, 6:30-7:30 pm, Eveline lead a service at All Souls Church at 399 Main St, Greenfield, MA. She was joined by Fiery Hope chorus members for Solstice songs, a Christmas carol or two, and a meaningful celebration of winter festivities.

In April 2024, Fiery Hope and The Uncles performed to support the Sgt. Jacob Garmalo Memorial Fund, which honors a young officer’s memory by raising money to help the formerly incarcerated to overcome financial obstacles and re-enter society. It was created shortly after the 21-year-old Leyden resident was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle in 2016, but it has been dormant since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The memorial fund helps departing inmates obtain a driver’s license, birth certificate or other documents needed to open a bank account, apply for a job or get an apartment.

TO DONATE AT ANY TIME: We invite you to mail a check to AMANDLA, INC, P.O. Box 223, Greenfield MA 01302. Please put “Garmalo” in the memo line. Thank you for your support!

In mid-December, Fiery Hope singers brought our music & hearts into the Franklin County Jail, something we've done many times over the last 25 years; these visits were the first time we've been back inside since the pandemic.

Also, a few of us were part of a concert on Sat. Dec. 16th at 7pm as part of the Mt. Toby Concert Series in Leverett.

A few of us participated in a Solstice / Holiday service on Sun. Dec. 24th at 7pm at All Souls Church in Greenfield, MA. 399 Main St.

Sat., April 29, 2023 All Souls Church, Greenfield, 7:00 pm

After three years of singing almost exclusively outdoors, we celebrated 3.5 decades and supported Stone Soup Café (the weekly pay-what-you-can community meal--gourmet lunch!--served by volunteers) with new material & time-honored international favs.

Special guests, Forest Avenue (string band), opened for Fiery Hope.

Since not everyone enjoys financial security, we offered sliding scale admission:

35¢ to $35 dollars / suggested donation $15.00.