Now that Christmas is just one month away, there are a number of wonderful musical events on the horizon.

First, on Saturday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. Michael Seroka, organist, and members of St. Joseph’s Parish Choir will present “Joyful Music of Advent and Christmas” at St. Joseph’s Church, 526 North Street, Jim Thorpe. The program will include organ and choral works by J.S. Bach, Bedard, Dandrieu, Krebs, and others performed on the church’s Austin Organ (built 1917 and rebuilt 1964 by Fritzsche). A flyer with more information is attached.

On Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. St. Stephen’s Church, Pro-Cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, Wilkes-Barre, will hold its annual Advent Lessons and Carols Service featuring music by Palestrina, Charles wood, Robert Twynham, Orlando Gibbons, Herbert Howells, and others under the direction of organist and choirmaster Canon Mark Laubach and guest conductor Dr. Rick Hoffenberg. This year’s music will feature a repeat performance of the new setting of the Magnificat which the church commissioned from composer Robert Nicholls for their 200th Anniversary and premiered a few weeks ago on October 29.

On Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m., students from The Lutheran Academy in Scranton under the direction of Carsten Bjornstad will present a Festival of Lessons and Carols at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 238 Reese Street, Scranton.

On Sunday, December 17 at 6:00 p.m. First United Methodist Church, Shickshinny, will hold its annual Lessons and Carols service featuring the Shickshinny Area Community Choir and the choir of the First Reformed United Church of Christ, Berwick as well as congregational carol singing. A reception will follow in the church’s social hall.

Do the hustle and bustle of the season have you at your wits’ end? Recharge your spirits by joining the Wyoming Valley Band, Conductor Donald Williams, and guest organist Canon Mark Laubach for an evening of traditional holiday fare on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Church, Pro-Cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem in Wilkes-Barre. Exciting works for concert band by various composers, including popular Christmas carols and songs, will highlight the program. A reception will follow. Admission will be free, though concert goers are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items and canned goods to help stock St. Stephen’s Food Pantry.

Congratulations to the people of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Hughestown as they celebrate the one hundredth birthday of their M.P. Möller pipe organ, Opus 2295. Chapter member and past Dean Michael Sowa presented a beautiful recital this afternoon marking the occasion with works by Bach, Buxtehude, Vierne, Young, and others in addition to an improvisation on a submitted hymn tune. The instrument at St. Peter’s was among the first Möller organ installations in the Wyoming Valley and it has been expanded and impeccably maintained over the years. It currently has nine ranks and 578 pipes.

Justin Hartz will perform a recital on an Estey Reed Organ Model “T”, 2 manuals and pedal c. 1915 on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 232 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton. The Estey Reed Organ, currently in use at St. Luke’s is on loan to the church through the generosity of the Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral Association of Scranton and its affiliated lodges and members.

Works will include compositions for organ by Byrd, Zundel, Vierne, Liszt, Frank, and an American composition “The Thunderstorm” by Thomas Philando Ryder.

Justin Hartz, a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was educated at Westminster Choir College and earned his M.M from the Juilliard School. He has been an E.Power Bigs Fellow of the Organ Historical Society, and since 1989 has been playing popular Christmas Carol sing-alongs and recitals on the 10,010 Aeolian pipe organ at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. His recordings include “HARTZ AND FLOWERS”, recorded at Longwood Gardens, and “DECK THE HALLS”, recorded on the E.M. Skinner pipe organ at Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina.

Having a life-long interest in historical keyboard instruments, Justin Hartz enjoys selecting music which displays the unique characteristics of each one. Mr. Hartz’s interest in organs by the Estey Organ Company goes back to his high school years, when he purchased a two manual and pedal reed organ similar to the one to be featured in this performance.

Stefan Kiessling, assistant organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany, will perform a recital at St. Stephen’s Church, Pro-Cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, 35 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre on Friday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. An offering of $15 per person ($10 for students and seniors) is suggested.

The recital will feature works by Bach and Mendelssohn, along with Max Reger’s thrilling Fantasy on Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A mighty fortress is our God) in commemoration of the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation.

Mr. Kiessling is an internationally known concert organist, having been invited to perform recitals and give masterclasses across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States. As assistant organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany, Kiessling provides liturgical music, performs recitals, and assists with the church’s boys choir and Gewandhaus Orchestra. The church has a long history of distinguished musicians: Johann Sebastian Bach served there as Kapellmeister from 1723 until his death in 1750.

The recital is being sponsored jointly by Music from St. Stephen’s and the Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The pipe organ has been called the “King of Instruments.” The sounds of the pipe organ have inspired worshippers for centuries. Great composers have written countless works for the instrument. Pipe organs have been installed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and theaters. The American Guild of Organists is passionate about the pipe organ and we want to share our love with a new generation.

Join us on Sunday, April 30 at Elm Park United Methodist Church in Scranton from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza. Participants will receive a behind the scenes tour of the instrument in addition to a chance to play it themselves (and eat some pizza!). All are welcome to attend. Students currently studying the piano are encouraged to bring a piece to play on the organ.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PEDALS, PIPES, AND PIZZA!

The Pennsylvania Northeast AGO Chapter is sponsoring a Clergy & Musician Relations Workshop at St. Stephen’s Church, Pro-Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, 35 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 9:30 am. Continental breakfast will be available at 9:00 am and the workshop will conclude with Noonday Prayer.

The featured presenter will be the Rev. Dr. Victoria Sirota, an Episcopal priest, lecturer, organist, and author of Preaching to the Choir: Claiming the Role of Sacred Musician. The Rev. Dr. Sirota holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Boston University, and Harvard Divinity School, and has taught at Yale Divinity School, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, The Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, and Boston University. She is currently Priest-in-Charge at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Yonkers, New York.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Organists, choir directors, church musicians, Parish Council, Consistory, and Vestry members, and clergy of all denominations are  welcome and encouraged to attend. To register, please call 570-301-9253 or email dean@agopane.org before February 27.

The pipe organ has been called the “King of Instruments.” The sounds of the pipe organ have inspired worshippers for centuries. Great composers have written countless works for the instrument. Pipe organs have been installed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and theaters. The American Guild of Organists is passionate about the pipe organ and we want to share our love with a new generation.

Join us on Sunday, November 13 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pittston from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza. Participants will receive a behind the scenes tour of the instrument in addition to a chance to play it themselves (and eat some pizza!). All are welcome to attend. Students currently studying the piano are encouraged to bring a piece to play on the organ

TO REGISTER FOR PEDALS, PIPES, AND PIZZA, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

On Sunday, 6 December 2015 at 3:00 PM, the Cathedral Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Peter V. Picerno, will present a Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent. Scripture, solos, hymns, and anthems will mark the liturgical season of Advent in preparation for Christmas. There is ample parking surrounding St Stanislaus Cathedral which is located at 529 East Locust St. in Scranton. The Festival is open to the public regardless of church affiliation.