Just over twenty people from the Tri-State area came together to ding a most beloved piece of holiday music. A smaller number this season than before due to additional holiday concerts on the same day around the region this year. We lost a few participants to concerts in their home areas.

That didn't stop the voices from blending well and presenting the audience with a spirit building performance worthy of a larger group. Their love and enthusiasm filled in where the numbers were missing. In is still amazing how St. Jacobi's acustics enhances any audio efforts made within its wall.

Jim Cuthbert is a singer/guitarist who has been recently performing as the dinner entertainment at a couple of New Jersey resteraunt. He brought his instrumental and vocal selection to St. Jacobi to a modest audience in the dog days of August.

A selection of about nine instrumental and ten vocal selections topped off with a couple songs origianlly by Frank Sinatra. A little different than several of the past comcert but who wouldn't find good guitar work welcome to enjoy for an hour or so.

The soprano, Ms. Patria Woodward, the flutist Mr. Basil Kyriakou, and the organist, Mr. Cryder Bankes were the trip of accomplished musician for the July monthly concert.

BACKGROUNDS:
Ms. Patria Woodard has performed roles for both the Chicago Lyric Opera's Center for American Artists, and, the Vinyard Opera in Massacussetts. She has also sung leads in various local opera companies including the Regina Opera Company here in Brooklyn. Ms. Woodard has traveled to France, Germany, Canada and several US States to perform as an oratorio soloist.

Flutist, Mr. Basil Kyriakou was a member of the National Orchestra appearing with all the leading conductors and soloists during his tenue. He has performed at many of the world's major Music Festivals. He appears in recordings for many of the leading recording studios such as London/Decca, Deutches Gramophom and Vox. Mr. Kyriakou has also recorded as a soloist for the Greek Radio-Television service in Athens.

Mr. Cryder Bankes is currenly the organist here at St. Jacobi Lutheran Church. He has previously been organist and chiormaster at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Flatbush, Brooklyn, Church of the Redeemer(Anglican) downtown Brooklyn and St. Pauls Episcopal in Bloomsburg, PA. He has performed recitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York; being featured previouly in this series.

The performers showed the full range of their talents. There were works for Soprano, Flute and Organ, Organ and Flute and Organ alone. There were even added singers assisting Ms. Woodard on works for voice as arranged by J. Lincoln. The afternoon was topped off with Mr. Bankes wonderful organ variations on the theme of the Star Spangled Banner as arranged by Dudley Buck.

Once again St. Jacobi was honored and pleased to host artists of such high claiber performing for the Community of Brooklyn. We now look forward to the next month's concert in a few weeks.

The idea was born in a discussion between Rev. Mary Chang, Pastor of St. Jacobi and the Dr. Roger Wesby, Choirmaster of Wagner College's world reknown Choir earlier this year.

A program was developed for an hour of song drawn from available sources: "The Lutheran Book of Worship" the 'Green Book' Hymnal common in ELCA Churches,"With One Voice" the supplemental Book of added Hymns and a special printed booklet of added Songs.

Dr. Roger Wesby led the 26 hardy souls who braved the very wet weather through the selections that shown the breadth of the musical heritage available to us today. He was very ably assisted on the piano by his wife, Ms. Barbara Wesby, an Adjunct Instructor in the Wagner College Music Department.

What makes this different from our regular concerts is that this is a pick-up all volunteer Community Chorus. It includes professional performers, but, it is open to all and everyone who loves to sing this music. The overwhelming majority are amateurs who love to sing.

The Chorus is then formed and directed by Dr. Thomas Schmidt, the Cantor and Music Director of St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Citicorp Center in Manhattan. Dr. Schmidt has been a supporter of the Healing Music Ministry in many ways. We have been blessed to have his assistance.

What a wonderful hour to give respite and renewal. Dr. Schmidt led the two dozen singers through several sections of Handel's world famous work. It was evident that it was well received by the way the audience was engrossed through the whole hour and enthusiastically appreciated the effort. Afterwards audience and Chorus retired downstairs to Friendship Hall for light refreshments and an opportunity to mix and converse with each other.

That's what happened on April 13th at St Jacobi. A slightly smaller audience than usually attends our concerts very warmly welcomed the Harold Stelter Quartet that afternoon. "Their Jazz program was just so good", according to Marion Palm one of those in attendance. They wowed the group listening with a nice variety of sounds.

The musicians were also appreciative of the reception. Harold Stelter was heard to say that it was a good crowd when you think of the size of most Manhattan Jazz Clubs. So they were pleased. Also pleasing wias the good acoustics of the Sanctuary space which perhaps helped to enhance the enjoyment.

Mr Credit was accompanied by Mr. Cifford Terry n the piano for his performance. Included were favorites from Copland, Burliegh, Gershwin and Hammerstein. We were also treated to a few songs composed by Mr. Credit himself.

There has developed a group that comes every month for the concerts. On regular mentioned how she was brought to near tears by Mr. Credit's fine rendition of several well know favorites. It was another well received and appreciated perfomance that soothed a hectic schedue for a few in the audience.

The Choir sang a total of eighteen pieces, under the leadership of Roger Wesby , Conductor with Barbara Wesby as accompaniest on Organ and Piano, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Aaron Copland and Cole Porter.

The Choir is made up of student singers from all across the acedemic disciplines at Wagner College. We were pleased to welcome sixteen of its members for today's send off concert. In the second week of March the Choir will have sung at seven venues in New Jersey, Pennsylvania Virginia and North Carolina. Returning to Staten Island for a Homecoming Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church.

St. Jacobi is very appreciative that is was chosen to host the Send Off Concert. The many Brooklynites in attendance look forward with hope that the Wagner College Choir will come back to Brooklyn to sing again soon.

Mr. Gregory Eaton is a well known Organist from St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church in Downtown/Brooklyn Heights. A suprise guest for the Anniversary Recital was the composer Mr. David Hurd.

For the second time, Dr. Schmidt led the volunteers in selections from George Frederick Handel's "The Messiah". Added for the Christmas season were five Christmas Carols both new and familiar.

Once again the concert allowed the spirits of both the singers and listeners to refresh and recharge from the daily hectic community life. ST. Jacobi has again given the community an opportunity to heal a little more after the events of 9-11.

Ms. Marcia Young, suprano and Harpist and Mr. Andy Rutherford on Lute performed through a list of some two dozen 16th and 17th Century period pieces. It was at times soothing, at times vigerous, and at times uplifting as they masterfully rendered the music and filled the Sanctuary with sound.

This provided the audience with the opportunity to spend an hour away from the reminders of the everyday rush. The Music and Art Ministry is our response to the need to have the chance to involve ourselves in something other than stress. At least once a month at the free events St. Jacobi plays host to members of the Brooklyn community who seek out the soothing sounds of music.

A native New Yorker Ms Pechefsky has degrees from Columbia University, Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Her credits include Carbegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Brooklyn Museum, the Morris-Jumel Mansion and many other venues in the metropolitan area.

At St. Jacobi's performance Ms. Pechefsky captivated the audience with works by Johann Gottfried Walther, Johann Sebastian Bach, Francois D'Agincour and Domenico Scarlatti.

Once again the one hour afternoon concert was a welcome respite from the commotion just outside the doors. We are fortunate to have such a fine artist perform at St. Jacobi.

Dr. Thomas Schmidt on St. Jacobi's 1931 Moler Organ started the program with Dietrich Buxtehude's rendition of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" followed by organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Back, Camille Saint-Saens, Anton Dvorak and Felix Mendellsohn.

The Organ was pit through it paces with these wonderful works and the very skilled Dr. Schmidt gave the audience the opportunity to know what was comming next, which only added to the enjoyment.

After a brief intermission and some words from Pastor Mary Chang the second half of th program started.

Mr. Roosevelt Andre Credit a veteran of both Broadway and off-Broadway had a vocal treat for the members of the community present. With his wonderful Baritone voice he thrilled the audience with more than a half dozen traditional Spirituals and creations he wrote himself. One could both see and hear how his experience on stage and his talent was aptly used to leave everyone with a feeling of satisfaction as his presentation.

St. Jacobi was once again blessed to have two greatly skilled musicians and performers offering their services to be a part of the Music & Art Ministry. Each month on the second Sunday at 4pm St. Jacobi has offered a program in it's new Music & Art Ministry. This program is in response to the sad event of September 2001. It is an opportunity for the community to relieve the stress brought on by that event.

About 30 people from all around Brooklyn, and a few from further afield, gathered in the previous Sunday afternoons to practice the parts in the first half of "The Messiah" score. On Sunday the 9th, from the original 30, there were just over two dozen members of this 'Community Choir' participating in the concert. It was also wonderful to see over 50 'spectators' sharing the wonderful sounds of this massed group of voices. "It did the heart good", one spectator said as he left the Sanctuary after the concert.

Many in the audience participated in their own way. Some moved with the flow of the music as each part was sung. Some mouthed the words as the melody filled the building. And a few added their own voice and joined in. It was what it had been planned to be. It was a time and opportunity for members of the community to come together, and to heal, with the joy of shared music.