2015/2016 Organ Concert Series @ Church in the Circle
Click HERE for the specifications of our organ.
A First for Church in the Circle –
A 2015/2016 Organ Concert Series Thanks to the efforts of our organist Lavert Stuart and former staff member Kay Hogg, our church was awarded a $7, 250 grant from The Charles H. Teare and Clifford K. Kern Music Fund of the Cleveland Foundation to underwrite the cost of our first community organ concert series in our newly renovated chancel. During the renovation, the organ console was redesigned and made movable and it can now occupy center stage for recitals. All the guest artists who will perform in this year’s series are persons of color intentionally chosen to inspire audiences of all ages and to educate them that pipe organ virtuosity is not limited to Caucasian performers. Appearing in a Homecoming Concert on Thursday evening, October 29, @ 7:00pm, is Joanna Li, who is well-known to many of us. Joanna was our organist from 2010-2014 and she is now organist at St. Paul’s Church in North Carolina. On Sunday, December 13, @ 2:00pm, our own Lavert Stuart celebrates his 50th year in music and in addition to solo organ music performed in this Advent Vesper Service also included will be organ-accompanied hand bells, choral music and dance ensembles. (Lavert is an important member of our concert series, but he will perform as part of his church position and will receive no funds from the Cleveland Foundation grant.) Friday, March 4, 2016 @ 7:00pm, our solo artist will be Nicole Keller who is on the faculty of Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. And the Concert Series concludes on Sunday, May 20, 2016 @ 2:00pm, with Herndon Spillman, coordinator of the organ program in the School of Music at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge will perform. The received grant funds can be used only to pay artist fees and all concerts must be free and open to the public. Free-will offerings to defray related costs are permitted. Expenses related to the concerts such as utilities, publicity, program printing, reception costs, administrative staff time, etc. are the responsibility of our church. If you wish to personally support this organ concert series, your donations will be gratefully received. Simply write “Concert Series” on your contribution and submit it to the church office. Your presence at these special events will make a visible statement to our community that Church in the Circle is a family of faith that truly believes in the strength of diversity. |