The Earthtones Vocal Ensemble at the Univ. of Connecticut, directed by Holy Trinity’s Mary Ellen Junda, will be performing Voice of the Vietnam War: Music and Memories, on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 3:00pm at the von der Mehden Recital Hall. The program will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Tet Offensive with military narratives and songs by the Animals, Rolling Stones, and more. There is no admission charge.

The Tet Offensive was one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War, launched on January 30, 1968, by forces of the Viet Cong & North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam against the forces of the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam, the U.S. Armed Forces, and their allies. It was a campaign of surprise attacks against military and civilian command and control centers throughout So. Vietnam. The name of the offensive comes from the Tet holiday, the Vietnamese New Year, when the first major attacks occurred.

Mary Ellen will also be involved in another concert, the following day, Sunday, December 3. ‘Northern Lights’, UConn’s Chamber Chorale Concert, will perform at 3:00pm at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Valley Street in Willimantic. Saint Mary’s was nearly destroyed by a terrible fire on May 16, 2013. The church was rebuilt and re-opened 25 months later. According to Mary Ellen, Saint Mary’s Church is ‘acoustically, almost perfect.” She promises it will be a stunning concert, offered in such a grand setting.

Click: Voices of the Vietnam War to download the promotional concert poster