Aurora church to host hymn festival with 8 guest organists, teen soloist

Posted March 27, 2024 11:22 am

Submitted by Al Benson

New England Congregational Church in Aurora and the Fox Valley American Guild of Organists are hosting a hymn festival featuring eight guest organists.

They will perform in a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14, in the church sanctuary at 406 W. Galena Blvd.in Aurora. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free.

Event co-chairs are New England organist Marsha Foxgrover and Steven Wente of Concordia University.

Guest organists, members of the Fox Valley AGO chapter, will be Adam Gruber of Oak Park; Nicholas Hansen of Sycamore; Daniel Schroeder of Batavia; Marianne Kim of Oak Brook; Barbara Masters of Elmhurst; Andrew Maya of Aurora; Karl Bruhn of Lombard; and Jeff Neufeld of Elgin.

Featured soloist will be 13-year-old Anthony Adduci, who will perform “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, calls the voice to us)," a sacred cantata by J.S. Bach.

Preceding each hymn will be a short introduction by Jane Holstein, former keyboard editor of Hope Publishing Co.

Congregational hymn singing will be accompanied by the Stonegate Brass Ensemble directed by Paul Semanic. The New England chancel choir director Paul Laprade will conduct brass/organ segments. A reception will conclude the festival.

Call (630) 897-8721 for more information.

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