Music at Christ Church
Looking ahead to the 36th season, 2010-2011
These concerts have already been booked:
10-12 September: CLASSICFEST
Watch for more information.
Sunday, 24 October, 2010, 4:00 pm
Organist RAÚL PRIETO RAMÍREZ, Spain.
'Anyone who has heard and seen Raul Prieto Ramirez perform will understand immediately why this agency was eager to represent him in North America, and how proud we are to add his name to our list of distinguished European and North American concert organists.I've worked in this field for 42 years, and believe me, performers as exciting and communicative as Raul Prieto come along very rarely.'
[Phillip Truckenbrod, management director]
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 4:00 pm
NEW YORK POLYPHONY
NEW YORK POLYPHONY is establishing itself as one of the finest classical vocal ensembles of a new generation. With "beautifully blended voices of individual distinction" (The Independent), the four men deliver dynamic performances in a wide range of styles. From simple plainchant to complex modern works, the NYP sound is strong, unified and polished.
Sunday, April 10, 2011, 4:00 pm
Guitarist DAVID BURGESS
Praised by musicians and critics worldwide, David Burgess is recognized as one of today's outstanding guitarists. His international appearances as soloist and chamber musician have taken him to concert halls throughout North and South America, Europe and the Far East. Highlights of recent seasons include several concert tours of Europe, repeated recitals in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Phoenix, and Nashville, along with numerous appearances as an orchestral soloist, including featured performances with the Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, and the American Chamber Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.
Here's what we presented last season, 2009-2010:
Sunday, November 29, 4:00 pm
The Silverwood Quartet
The annual "Welcome Yule" concert.
Suggested donation: $10
Silverwood, who calls its musical menu "classical music with a kick," returns for another "Welcome Yule" concert at Christ Church, the first concert of Pensacola's holiday season. This year the quartet will premiere a new carol suite from one of its favorite composers, Brian Joyce, called "On December Five and Twenty - A Wreath of Carols," along with other yuletide and winter selections.
The Silverwood Quartet is made up of Mobile flutist Andra Bohnet, Eastern Shore violinist Tom Morley, and two Pensacolians, violist Jonathan Clark and cellist Barbara Gabriel. The group's multiple recordings have earned an ever-growing reputation in the US and internationally.
Sunday, December 13, 5:00 pm
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
The Choir of Christ Church Parish
Free and open to the public.
January 31, 4:00 pm
Organist Christopher Houlihan
Co-sponsored with the Pensacola Chapter,
American Guild of Organists. Suggested donation: $5
February 21, 4:00 pm
Organist Chelsea Chen
Suggested donation: $5
April 25, 4:00 pm
The Heim Duo (flute & guitar)
Gypsy Inspirations: Music for flute, viola and guitar
with guest violist Brian Brown. Suggested donation: $10
May 16, 4:00 pm
The Perdido Brass
Suggested donation: $10.
“Music at Christ Church” is the concert series that essentially began with the dedication of the Kney Organ in 1975. In the thirty-plus years since, more than 400 concerts have been presented here, the majority of them free, because of the generosity of audience members and Christ Church.
If you would like to make a contribution to Music at Christ Church, you can print this contribution form and mail it to Music at Christ Church, PO Box 12783, Pensacola, FL 32591. Contributionform.pdf
In the early years, concerts mostly presented organ artists. Choir concerts from the musicians at Christ Church began to remind us what a wonderful musical instrument Christ Church itself is, and the content of the concerts became more varied. Contributions from the church, parishioners, and community members kept apace with expenses.
Music at Christ Church continues to present organ artists from all over the world. Some of the world’s finest made their way to the Great Kney, including Marie-Claire Alain and Olivier Latry of France; Dame Gillian Weir, Christopher Herrick, and Thomas Trotter from Great Britain; and Felix Hell and Johannes Unger from Germany. Organists including David Craighead, Joan Lippincott, Gerre Hancock, Marilyn Keiser, Todd Wilson, and the new young generation of Paul Jacobs and Ken Cowan have brought American artistry to Pensacola audiences. Hymn festivals featuring the likes of Paul Manz and John Ferguson have also been part of the mix.
Some of the highpoints of Music at Christ Church before and after the new millennium were performances by choral artists including Anonymous IV (three performances at Christ Church), the American Boychoir (also three) and Chanticleer, whose sold-out performance in 1998 was surely a memorable evening.
As we approach the 35th birthday of the Kney Organ in 2010, we look forward to the music this great instrument will continue to bring!