Music News

Enjoy an evening of unique classical and jazz repertoire as some of Washington's finest musicians come together in harmony for a common cause.  "Rhapsody for a Cure" benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and takes place on Thursday, June 10 at 7 PM at CHUMC.

The first half features the violin and double-bass duo of "Bridging the Gap", comprised of Peter Wilson and Aaron Clay. The concert will conclude with the renowned concert pianist AnnaMaria Mottola performing the 1924 original jazz orchestra version of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which the Washington Post has hailed as "...exhilarating." Tickets are $20 / adult and free for children. All proceeds support the one million Americans currently battling blood cancer.

For more information and tickets follow this link for Man of the Year Candidate Jordan Rosenblatt.

Philadelphia Orchestra violinist David Kim will appear in concert at 8 pm on Monday, March 29 at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. Mr. Kim and friends will perform Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross for string quartet with narration. Joining Mr. Kim will be Philadelphia Orchestra colleagues Lisa-Beth Lambert, Rachel Ku and Richard Harlow. This Holy Week performance is the third of the free “Musical Mondays” concert series at the church.

Besides serving as the renowned orchestra’s concertmaster, Mr. Kim performs each season as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and numerous orchestras around the world. In one review, the New York Times said, “the concertmaster’s superb, delicate solos were gold on gold.” He was featured in the documentary, “Music From the Inside Out,” the first major film featuring a symphony orchestra since Disney’s “Fantasia.” In 1986, he was the only American violinist to win a prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

His instrument is a J.B. Guadagnini from Milan, Italy, ca. 1757 on loan from the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The performance will be followed by a reception of refreshments, conversation and time with the artists. All are free, but donations are welcome.

The National Convention of the American Guild of Organists will be in DC this July, and Isabelle Demers will play a special post-convention concert at CHUMC on Friday, July 9, 2010 at noon.

Make this your New Year’s resolution:

Tonight at 8 pm come hear renowned organist Eric Plutz perform on the historic Whitelegg Möller pipe organ at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. This performance is part of the free “Musical Mondays” concert series the church launched to share its newly restored pipe organ with the community. The organ is considered to be a tonal masterpiece.

Mr. Plutz, University Organist at Princeton University, will play organ transcriptions of orchestral works, among other selections. He has been described by the Washington Post as “a spirited and virtuosic organist.” At Princeton, he has recorded two solo organ CDs, Poème Héroïque and Carnival; both recordings will be available for sale tonight and also are available through the Pro Organo web site, www.zarex.com.

He is no stranger to Washington. Besides working with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Choral Arts Society, the Washington Ballet and many other organizations, Mr. Plutz was long-time organist and director of music at Church of the Epiphany and served as dean of the DC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The performance will be followed by a sumptuous reception. Both are free, but donations are welcome.

The next Musical Mondays performance will feature David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, on March 29.

Canadian organist Isabelle Demers performs her arrangement of Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony on the newly-restored 1939 Moller-Whitelegg at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aHer2_tlFc

The free Musical Mondays Concert Series returns to Capitol Hill on January 4, featuring renowned virtuosi playing Capitol Hill United Methodist Church’s newly restored pipe organ – a 1939 Whitelegg-designed masterpiece that ranks again as one of the most exquisite instruments in the city. Concerts begin at 8 p. m. and are free and open to the public.

Hear master organists and instrumentalists play a wide range of music, including Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ with string quartet on March 29, 2010. Live video will allow the audience to enjoy the astounding console work of these organists.

September 28, 2009
Isabelle Demers

January 4, 2010
Eric Plutz

March 29, 2010
David Kim
SPECIAL EVENT

For more information on the upcoming performance click here.

Click on the link below to view a video of Isabelle Demers performing her arrangement of Mendelssohn's Fifth Symphony on the CHUMC organ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aHer2_tlFc

Click the play button below to listen to a sample recording of CHUMC's fantastic pipe organ.