VERO BEACH — First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach has a full season of three truly remarkable concerts and three musical worship services planned for the 2011-2012 season. Through worship services and concerts by guest artists, the Treasure Coast has the opportunity to experience musical programs which enrich our community artistically and spiritually. Last year we had excellent attendance at our concerts, with the sanctuary filled to capacity for most programs, and we expect full participation again this year.
All of the concerts, except the Wintley Phipps benefit concert, are presented without admission charge; however, donations are accepted and encouraged at each program. Gifts may be made at any time to the Music Fund of First Presbyterian Church and will support all of our special musical programming.
The programs for this season are as follows:
Sunday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services – Dawn of Love’s Light
The Chancel Choir and Orchestra of First Presbyterian Church present a festival of music for Advent and Christmas. The birth of Christ carries us into the dawn of love’s light. Celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas with the inspiring music of Antonio Vivaldi, Benjamin Britten, John Rutter, and Michael W. Smith, all presented by the First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and Orchestra. Senior Pastor Dr. Timothy Womack will deliver the homily. A pre-service orchestra concert begins twenty minutes prior to each musical worship service. (Freewill offering received.)
Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. – Jon Kimura Parker, internationally acclaimed concert pianist
Jon Kimura Parker’s extraordinary career has taken him from Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House to the Canadian Arctic and war-torn Sarajevo. He is an Officer of The Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian honor, and Gold Medal Laureate of the Leeds International Piano Competition. One of the most sought-after performing pianists today, Parker performed an unprecedented array of piano concertos in the 2010-2011 season, including Rachmaninoff No. 3, Brahms No. 2, Tchaikovsky No. 1, Barber, Gershwin, Beethoven No. 4, Beethoven “Emperor”, Grieg, and several by Mozart. His January 17 program will include Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Parker’s arrangement of Stravinsky’s Petrouchka, and other works. For further information, please see www.jonkimuraparker.com and www.oicmf.org. (Freewill offering received.)
Sunday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. – Wintley Phipps, Gospel music vocal artist
Wintley Phipps, world-renowned vocal artist, motivational speaker, and education activist will perform a benefit concert for the U.S. Dream Academy. Wintley Phipps is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, a national after-school program that aims to break the cycle of intergenerational incarceration by giving children the skills and vision necessary to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Phipps has performed on Saturday Night Live as well as Sunday Live and has been the special guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and CBS Nightwatch and was nominated for Grammy Awards in 1988 and 1989. Phipps has attracted an entire new generation of fans as his performance of Amazing Grace has received over six million viewers, making him the most watched Gospel Music artist on YouTube. Tickets ($25 minimum donation to U.S. Dream Academy) are available at the church beginning Monday, Nov. 28, by calling the church office, (772) 562-9088.
Sunday, March 18 at 7 p.m. – Hope College Chapel Choir of Holland, Michigan
The Hope Chapel Choir, founded in 1938, is Hope College’s premier choral ensemble. Made up of forty auditioned singers, the Hope Chapel Choir has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada, and has traveled abroad on eight occasions. The choir is featured along with other music ensembles in Christmas Vespers, a tradition that stretches back to 1941. Award winning broadcasts of Christmas Vespers by WGVU, Grand Rapids, MI, are shown on PBS stations around the country at Christmastime. (Freewill offering received.)
Sunday, March 25 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services – Ashes to Fire: A Musical Worship Service by the Chancel Choir and Orchestra.
This service will include a wide variety of music which spans the period from Ash Wednesday through Easter and Pentecost. (Freewill offering.)
Sunday, April 22 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services – Eckerd College Choir of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Eckerd College Choir returns to Vero Beach to offer inspiring music at both morning worship services. The Eckerd College Choir has performed international tours, and returns to First Presbyterian Church as a favorite performing ensemble. (Freewill offering.)
For further information call Dr. Thomas Goetz, Director of Music and Arts, at (772) 562-9088 or email thomasgoetz@firstpresvero.org.