Advent Cantata
The Wesley Choir and Festival Singers
Brett Maguire, organist-choirmaster
Sunday, December 21, 2007
10:30 a.m.

This special worship service will revolve around the performance of a major, multi-movement work by Wesley's ensembles and visiting musicians to celebrate the Advent season.

Wesley Hall, organist, and Mackenzie Melemed, pianist
Sundberg Memorial Concert
Friday, May 29, 2009
7:30 p.m.

Wesley's Organ Series
First Sunday of each month
October to June
12:30 p.m.

Wesley’s 73-rank Skinner pipe organ is once again featured monthly. This year offers a new twist as we celebrate the International Year of the Organ with "Waffles and Widor at Wesley." Brett Maguire, the new Director of Music Ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church, will play all ten of the organ symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor, one symphony per month, with a noontime waffle brunch preceding the 12:30 p.m. concert. While Widor (1844-1937) is best known for his Toccata, his symphonies remain some of the most idiosyncratic works ever written for the instrument, each one offering a unique opportunity to experience his development as one of the greatest composers for the organ.

In addition to the regular first Sunday concerts, there will be a special, two-symphony recital on Sunday, October 19 at 12:30 p.m. as part of the American Guild of Organists' Organ Spectacular festivities that day. The 2008-09 Pipes Alive! series will conclude in June with a recital by visiting organist Ed Broms.

October 5, 2008: Widor 1
October 19, 2008: Widor 2 & 3
November 2, 2008: Widor 4
December 7, 2008: Widor 5
January 4, 2009: Widor 6
February 1, 2009: Widor 7
March 1, 2009: Widor 8
April 5, 2009: Widor 9 ("Gothique")
May 3, 2009: Widor 10 ("Romane")
June 7, 2009: Ed Broms, Guest Organist

The Music Alive! Concert Series has as its mission to offer first-rate musical performances as our gift to the greater Worcester community. The architectural and acoustical beauty of the sanctuary of Wesley United Methodist Church provides the perfect setting for musical performances, thus positioning Wesley as one of the premiere concert venues in downtown Worcester. Our promise is to present a diverse program of musical genres, including jazz, classical, traditional and cross-cultural, that will appeal to a wide audience.

A regular feature of Music Alive! is monthly, half-hour Pipes Alive! concerts, featuring master organists from the Greater Worcester area, as well as nationally and internationally known artists, on Wesley's 73-rank, 1927 E.M. Skinner pipe organ.

All Music Alive! and Pipes Alive! concerts are open to the public and offered at no cost. Artist fees and administrative costs are raised by free-will offerings at concerts, individual and corporate sponsorship, and program advertisements. Music Alive is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Cultural Commission, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Please print this page as your reminder of each concert this season. We look forward to seeing you at all of them!

Donations are needed to keep Music Alive at Wesley Church!

Music Alive! Task Force:
Lorraine Kronberg, Secretary/Treasurer
Johnnell Demery, Receiving Treasurer
Sue Proulx, Hospitality
Lanny Hilgar, Publications Coordinator

Publicity Committee:
George Proulx, Chair
Allison Hansen
Dorothy Palmgren

2005-6: Our Premiere Season
2006-7: Drums, Instruments and Voices
2007-8: Our Gift to the City