BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — ArtsBridge, a celebration of the arts right in our neighborhood, will present “Sights and Sounds of Christmas” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 475 Green Ave. on Morton Hill.

The first half of the program will feature Christmas music by Lake Effect Winds, a woodwind quintet. The quintet will perform “Deck the Halls,” “Joy To The World,”

“What Child is This?,” “O Holy Night,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Christmas Jazz Suite,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

The second half of the program will feature Gwen Norwood, a gifted gospel vocalist. Joshua Nowicki, a photographer of local seascapes, will exhibit and sell his images, too.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

“There is God-given talent and art all around us. Our hope is to provide a space where their art can help bridge our diversity as we fellowship together and revel in each other’s creative gifts,” said Pastor Laurie Hartzell.

A reception will follow the program in Goff Hall. For details call (269) 925-7075 or visit on Facebook: First Presbyterian of Benton Harbor.

Members of Lake Effect Winds all reside in the southwest Michigan area.

Jan Street, of Berrien Springs, plays flute. She is a reading intervention teacher at the Arts and Communication Academy in Benton Harbor. Jan plays with the St. Joseph Municipal Band and the Southshore Concert Band.

Ruthann Adams, of Edwardsburg, plays oboe. She is a massage therapist and owner of Adams Therapeutic Massage in Edwardsburg. Ruthann also works part time as a medical technologist at Elkhart General Hospital. She does freelance oboe performances in Michiana and has played with the St. Joseph Municipal Band.

Melody Prather, of St. Joseph, plays clarinet. She is the piano accompanist for the St. Joseph High School Choirs, the clarinet Artist in Residence for the St. Joseph Bands and a substitute teacher in the St. Joseph Public Schools. Melody plays in the St. Joseph Municipal Band and has performed with the Andrews University Orchestra.

DeLain Bomer, of Sister Lakes, plays French horn. DeLain currently has his own appliance repair business, teaches at Lake Michigan College and gives private horn lessons. He is a member of the St. Joseph Municipal Band, the Southshore Concert Band and Pernassis Chamber Orchestra.

Lisa Bubar, of St. Joseph, plays bassoon. Lisa teaches private bassoon lessons to students throughout southwest Michigan. She performs with the St. Joseph Municipal Band and the Andrews University Orchestra where she is adjunct faculty. Lisa has also performed with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the Whiting Festival Orchestra in Whiting, Indiana and Vesper Chamber Orchestra in South Bend, Indiana

Gwen Norwood, of Benton Harbor, began singing at age 5 in church, school and community choirs. Gwen has been described as “an anointed psalmist, who was created to sing the gospel!” Through the years she has been able to polish her vocal skill to give God the best praise. Gwen has traveled throughout the country to be guest soloist on several recordings as well as sing background for well-known gospel artists such as Albertina Walker, Twinkie Clark, Jackie Clark, Beverly Crawford, Angela Spivey, James Moore, and Lamont McCoy. In August 2009 Gwen shared the stage as an opening artist for Shari Addison of BET’s Sunday Best Season 1 in South Bend, Indiana. She also released her first solo project entitled “The Time is Now” in 2007 and a self-titled extended play (EP) project in 2009.

In 2014 Gwen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Production from Full Sail University on-line. Currently, Gwen is employed as the Head Choir Master for the combined choirs at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, which brings her great joy.

Joshua Nowicki, of Grand Rapids, obtained his master of arts degree in Anthropology from Western Michigan University. Then he moved to Metro Detroit and worked for the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. He also served on the board of directors of the Michigan Museums Association. It was during this time that Joshua began to develop his interest in photography by using the center’s camera to photograph the museum’s architecture, exhibits and events for publication and marketing purposes.

In 2011, Josh moved to St. Joseph and accepted a position at the Krasl Art Center. His interest in photography expanded beyond the walls of museums and in early 2012 received his first DSLR camera, a gift from his parents. He is now well-known for his photos of the lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan.

“The lighthouse embodies strength, hope and guidance. It preservers and shines strong even during a storm,” Nowicki said. “I am drawn to lighthouses every time the weather changes, because I know I am guaranteed a new and captivating experience.”

The photographer’s images have appeared locally and nationally in St. Joseph Today, Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council, on the Pure Michigan website, National Geographic website, The Weather Channel, The Daily Mail, Huffington Post, USA Today and other publications.