at First Presbyterian Church of Naples
2017-2018
A Season of Music First Presbyterian Church of Naples
who love and support music that our church is able to provide such fine music that benefits both our church and the greater Naples community. Donations can be made securely through our website. If you are interested in underwriting one of our concerts, please contact me at the church. It is my hope that you will be inspired to attend many of our concerts and that you will find them to be uplifting and meaningful. Through these concerts we will reach out to our community and beckon people into our beautiful church. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.
Dr. Brice Gerlach Director of Music Ministries As we begin a new season of concerts, I feel so fortunate to live in such a wonderful city that loves the arts. Naples has become a cultural center for the region and the Season of Music concerts at First Presbyterian Church are a part of the artistic fabric of the city! We begin in November with the 100-voice Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus and I know these talented young people will present an uplifting and inspiring concert. We continue with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus in our annual performance of Handel’s masterpiece Messiah and our wonderful Chancel Choir will put us in the Christmas spirit with their beautiful singing. In the New Year we will have two concerts on our wonderful Ruffatti pipe organ as well as a chamber concert and a husband and wife piano duo! I invite you to help continue the legacy of great music at First Presbyterian Church. It is only through the generosity of people
Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus Dr. James Cochran, Director Dr. Brice Gerlach, Assistant Director Michele Byrd, Singing Skills Instructor Sunday, November 5, 2017 4:00 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic Chorus Saturday, December 2, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Radu Paponiu, conductor Dr. James Cochran, chorus director Experience the power of the 100-voice Naples Philharmonic Chorus as they present Handel’s masterful oratorio. A commentary on the life of Jesus Christ, Messiah remains Handel's best -known work, with performances particularly popular during the Advent season. To commemorate the holiday season, the Chorus will perform the work they first performed together as an ensemble in 1991.
The Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus, under the direction of Dr. James Cochran, presents a concert sure to uplift and inspire. The chorus is an auditioned choir of children ranging in age from 6 to 18. They rehearse weekly and perform annually at Holiday Pops and their Spring Recital at Artis— Naples. They also sing for community events and in concerts around the Naples area. They are the best young singers in our community. The concert will feature pieces in different languages, folk songs, music from several movies, and patriotic pieces. You will love seeing the joy that these children have while singing. Don’t miss the chance to hear 100 young musicians in this special concert.
Tickets are available for purchase through the Artis—Naples Box Office at 239.597.1900. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Adult $35, Student $15.
A Choral Christmas Clarinet Trio with the Chancel Choir of First Daniela Shtereva, violin Nikolay Blagov, clarinet Presbyterian Church Milana Strezeva, piano Dr. Brice Gerlach, conductor Sunday, December 10, 2017 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 18, 2018 4:00 p.m. Three award winning musicians come together to present a concert featuring music for violin, clarinet and piano. Each musician is a virtuoso in their own right and the combination their talents will make for a very special afternoon of music! The concert will feature works by Khachaturian, Milhaud, Gershwin and Debussy.
Christmas time is filled with family and friends gathering together to celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth. Many people find comfort in the music of the season. We continue that tradition of celebrating Christmas in song by presenting “A Choral Christmas.” The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church will present a concert that celebrates the joy of Christmas through the art of song. The program will feature our wonderful soloists and our choir singing Christmas favorites as well as an audience sing-a-long of well-known carols. Come and enjoy the music of Christmas! Mark your calendar now for this yuletide afternoon.
Adam Brakel, organ Sunday, March 4, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Simon Thomas Jacobs, organ Sunday, March 18, 2018 4:00 p.m. Simon Thomas Jacobs was awarded both First Prize and Audience Prize at the 2013 St. Albans International Organ Competition, thus securing a place alongside some of the world’s finest concert organists. In May 2015, The Diapason magazine included him on its “Twenty Under Thirty” listing of artists who are exhibiting “superior accomplishments, leadership, and creativity” within the pipe organ profession.
The spell-binding concert performances of Adam Brakel have led to his being compared to Liszt, Gould, Bernstein, and Paganini. National Public Radio in Florida hailed him as “An absolute organ prodigy, with the technique and virtuosity that most concert pianists could only Simon served as organ scholar at Clare College, dream of…he is the Franz Liszt of the organ.” Cambridge University, and received an honors degree in music in 2009. In 2009, he moved to Adam was one of the featured performers at the the United States and was appointed Associate 2016 national convention of the National Director of Music at Christ Church Greenwich, Association of Pastoral Musicians. He has CT and then as Associate Organist/Choirmaster previously served as associate organist at St. Paul’s at Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis, IN. He Cathedral, Pittsburgh, and St. Ignatius Loyola, was awarded an Artist’s Diploma from Oberlin New York. Currently, he serves as Director of Conservatory in May 2015. He now serves as Music at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in the director of music at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Nashville, TN.
Catherine Lan and Tao Lin, piano Duo Beaux Arts Sunday, April 8, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Lenten Organ Concerts Wednesdays February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. The spectacular Ruffatti pipe organ is featured in six Lenten organ recitals offered by our Director of Music, Brice Gerlach. In these informal concerts Brice takes the time to explain some of the mechanical workings of the organ and offers some musical insights about the pieces on the program. Each concert opens with a piece that highlights the magnificent horizontal trumpets protruding from the front of the organ case. A work by J. S. Bach is always featured and arrangements of Lenten hymn tunes are presented, allowing for some of the diverse solo stops and softer sounds of the organ to be heard. The concerts will end with a rousing toccata, allowing the audience to hear the full power of the organ.
Duo Beaux Arts was formed in 2008 by internationally renowned concert pianists Tao Lin and Catherine Lan. The Duo (husband and wife) has performed extensively throughout the United States and Asia to both critical and audience acclaim, and just made its European debut in France and Switzerland. The Duo specializes music from the Baroque to the contemporary eras, including Tangos and Ragtime. They are also the founders of Beaux Arts Chamber Music Series in Naples, FL, which invites pre-eminent chamber groups in the world to perform in a wonderfully intimate setting.
After the recital, the audience is invited up to the console to ask questions and to see the beautiful woodwork and craftsmanship of the Ruffatti. Tours of the pipe chambers are also offered each week. Come hear beautiful organ music during Lent. Don't miss these special opportunities for personal reflection, meditation, and celebration of this holy season.
Special Events Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. This service celebrates the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church and its roots in Reformed Theology. We will be joined by the Saint Andrew’s Society of Southwest Florida and The Harp and Thistle Pipe Band will provide special music for this service. Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 23, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. Blue Christmas Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. There is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. Join us for a service of comfort, hope, wholeness and renewal. Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, 2017 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. A bi-lingual communion service celebrating the Last Supper. We worship together with Iglesia Nacion Santa Internacional Church. Good Friday Friday, March 30, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Easter Sunday Sunday, April 1, 2018 7:30 a.m. Courtyard Service 8:30 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. We will celebrate Easter with special music provided by the Naples Chamber Brass Quintet at all of our services. Come join in singing Christ the
Lord Is Risen Today and hear Our Family Service at 5:00 p.m. is an interactive service for families with young children.
The service at 7:00 p.m. is a traditional candlelight service with readings and carols. The candlelight service will also feature special music from our soloists and choir beginning 30 minutes prior to worship.
the magnificent
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. You will be uplifted by the glorious music of Easter!
First Presbyterian Church of Naples
Non-Profit Org. Postage PAID Naples, FL 34102
250 Sixth Street South Naples, FL 34102 239.262.1311 www.fpcnaples.org
Permit No. 8
Musical Year at a Glance at First Presbyterian Church of Naples Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans Sunday, October 29, 2017 9:30 a.m.
Blue Christmas Wednesday, December 20, 2017 5:30 p.m.
Simon Thomas Jacobs Sunday, March 18, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Philharmonic Youth Chorus Sunday, November 5, 2017 4 p.m.
Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24, 2017 5:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 29, 2018 7:00 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 23, 2017 11:30 a.m.
Ash Wednesday Wednesday, February 14, 2018 12 p.m.
Good Friday Friday, March 30, 2018 12 p.m.
Handel's Messiah Saturday, December 2, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Clarinet Trio Sunday, February 18, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday Sunday, April 1, 2018 7:30, 8:30 & 10:15 a.m.
A Choral Christmas Sunday, December 10, 2017 4:00 p.m.
Adam Brakel, organ Sunday, March 4, 2018 4:00 p.m.
Duo Beaux Arts Sunday, April 8, 2018 4:00 p.m.