The Music at Grace Concert Series
It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2023-2024 Music at Grace Concert Series at Grace United Methodist Church. We are so fortunate to have such a lovely sanctuary and building; one that some many musical arts organizations in the Baltimore area love and appreciate! Not only do they appreciate the convenience of the location, the accessible parking and the great acoustics in the sanctuary, but they also appreciate the welcoming congregation and staff.
This year, we welcome back The Handel Choir of Baltimore, Baltimore Musicales, Maryland Opera and the New Wave Singers for their exciting choral and opera music! Also returning are the students from the Baltimore School for the Arts as they present the ever-popular Opera Scenes, under the direction of Robert Cantrell.
This year we welcome the Baltimore Choral Arts and their Discovery Series on Saturday, October 7 at 4:00 p.m. as they invite the public to sing with them in their presentation of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. We also welcome Baltimore’s premier early music ensemble, Pro Musica Rara for all three of their concerts on October 1st, February 25th and April 7th.
During this new season of concerts, we will host and present four in-house concerts. On Friday, October 27th at 7:30 p.m. Kathryn Locke and I will join musical forces on two Steinway pianos as we present Edvard Grieg’s Norwegian Romance with Variations and the fun and exciting Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saëns. The Carnival will be paired with a narration and images of all the animals throughout the piece. This concert will be especially pleasing for families with children. We invite their excited spirit to this fun event! On Sunday, November 12th members of Grace’s Chancel Choir, along with past soloists and choir members will sing a memorial concert for our friend and colleague Mr. Bruce Eicher. This 3:00 p.m. concert will remember the legacy of Bruce’s ministry through song, photos, past concert bulletins and stories. Avoiding all the busyness and craziness of December, the Chancel Choir will wait until January 7th to sing their Christmas concert, retelling the Christmas story through solos and choral anthems. And finally, we are thrilled to host an organ recital on Friday, February 9th presented by Paul Jacobs, organ department chair at the Julliard School of Music an extraordinarily expressive performer and Grammy Award-winning organist. It will be phenomenal to hear this world-class organist as he performs on Grace’s magnificent organ.
As always, I am grateful for your wonderful support for the music at Grace Church, not only in worship but also through our concert series. I hope to see you in attendance at our concerts!
With sincerity of heart,
Christopher Schroeder
Sunday, October 1st at 3:30 p.m. Conversation with The Lute; Pro Musica Rara with a pre-concert lecture beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: promusicarara.org or at the door.
Saturday, October 7th at 4:00 p.m. Choral Arts Discovery Series; bringing choral music to new audiences. Faure Requiem. Come and Sing with the Baltimore Choral Arts.
Sunday, October 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Alive In Song; A Voice Recital. Baltimore Musicales. Tickets: baltimoremusicales.org (Performance relocated to Woodbrook Baptist Church, 25 Stevenson Lane, Baltimore.
Friday, October 27th at 7:30 p.m. Piano Concert: Two Pianos, Four Hands featuring the artists Kathryn Locke and Christopher Schroeder. Free Will Offering available to support Grace’s Music Ministry.
Sunday, November 5th at 4:00 p.m. Music of Bach, Telemann and Handel presented by Bach in Baltimore. Music Director, T. Herbert Dimmock. Tickets: bachinbaltimore.org
Sunday, November 12th at 3:00 p.m. Remembering a Legacy: Memorial Concert remembering Bruce Eicher, Minister of Music/Organist at Grace Church 1958-2012. The Chancel Choir of Grace Church in collaboration with past soloists, choir members and musicians including the Choir from Beth El Congregation will celebrate the ministry of Bruce Eicher with music, photos, programs and stories. Flutist Sara Nichols and Organist, Henry Lowe will also participate in this memorable concert. A reception will follow and a free will offering will be available to support Grace’s Music Ministry.
Sunday, November 19th at 3:00 p.m. Opera Scenes presented by the Baltimore School for the Arts; Director, Robert Cantrell assisted by Patricia Hengen-Shields. This delightful free concert presents an array of scenes from great operatic works.
Saturday, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 3rd at 4:00 p.m. Sounds of the Season: New Wave Singers. Celebrate the holidays with music by Maryland’s premier LGBTQ+ chorus. Director: Tim Gillan; Accompanist: Chris Schroeder. Tickets: newwavesingers.org
Saturday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. Period Perfect Messiah presented by the Handel Choir of Baltimore. Our period-instrument orchestra returns for the period-perfect Messiah you love, this year including rarely heard arias and choruses from Part II. Artistic Director and Conductor, Brian Bartoldus. Tickets: handelchoir.org
Sunday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m. Candlelight Service for Christmas Eve Featuring music presented by Grace Church’s Chancel Choir and a string quartet with excerpts from Handel’s Messiah starting at 3:45 p.m. Grace will not offer a 9 p.m. Christmas Eve service this year.
Sunday, January 7th at 3:00 p.m. Christmas/Epiphany Concert presented by the Chancel Choir of Grace Church. A free will offering will be available to support the Music Ministry at Grace Church.
Friday, February 9th at 7:00 p.m. Organist in Recital: Paul Jacobs, Grammy award-winning organist performs on Grace’s 54 rank Moller organ. A free will offering will be available to support the Music Ministry at Grace Church; a $25 donation is suggested to support this concert.
Sunday, February 18th at 3:00 p.m. Heritage Series: Maryland Opera honoring Pat Osborn and the Opera volunteers. Artistic Director: James Harp. Operatic tours de force performed by internationally renowned singers accompanied by chamber orchestra. Tickets: marylandopera.org
Sunday, February 25th at 3:30 p.m. Superbach Sunday: Pro Musica Rara, Baltimore’s premier early music ensemble. Artistic Director: Cynthia Roberts; Guest Artist, Paul Odette, Lute. Tickets: promusicarara.org
Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m. Made in Baltimore, Too presented by The Handel Choir of Baltimore. Steinway artist Lura Johnson is featured soloist in the return of our popular Made in Baltimore event celebrating Baltimore music and musicians. Lura and The Handel Choir will perform a newly commissioned work by a Baltimore composer. Artistic Director and Conductor: Brian Bartoldus. Tickets: handelchoir.org
Sunday, March 31st at 10:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Festival Service. Music featuring the Chancel Choir of Grace Church and the Carrollton Brass.
Sunday, April 7th at 3:30 p.m. The French Connection: Pro Musica Rara, Baltimore’s premier early music ensemble. Artistic Director: Cynthia Roberts. Tickets: promusicarara.org
Saturday, June 1st at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 2nd at 4:00 p.m. Pride Concert: The New Wave Singers. Start your Pride Month celebrations with songs of hope, diversity, inclusion and humor. Director: Tim Gillan; Accompanist: Chris Schroeder. Tickets: newwavesingers.org