Christ Church Lutheran Music Series
The Music Series at Christ Church Lutheran is
A celebration of the congregation's musical talents and heritage and its leadership in liturgical arts
An invitation to experience great music in this internationally significant building
A way to welcome any and all into this place to experience the warmth of this community through artistic expression and fantastic receptions!
Below you’ll find our 2025-2026 Music Series calendar. All events are free and open to the public and are followed by a reception.
Organ Concert—Wayne Wold
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 4:00pm
Renowned organist, composer, and church musician Wayne Wold offers a program of German, French and American repertoire on Christ Church Lutheran’s Dobson organ (2018). Music by Bach, Franck, and others, as well as congregational singing. Wold’s technical excellence, inspiring improvisations, and sensitive hymn leadership will impress connoisseurs and novices alike. Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.
Mardi Gras Jazz Concert
Ft. The Longfellow Jazz All-Stars
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 4:00pm
On the Sunday of Carnival weekend, just days before Ash Wednesday, join local trumpeter Bill Simenson and the Longfellow Jazz All-Stars for a lively program of traditional New Orleans jazz. With influences from blues and ragtime, this improvisatory style will delight the eye and ear and have your toe tapping. Dance while the “front line” plays and join the “second line” as we march from stage to reception. Free and open to the public.
Cantata Vespers—Season of Easter
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 4:00pm
Bach’s Cantata 4—“Christ lag in Todesbanden” (Christ lay in bonds of death)—reminds us of Jesus’ victory over death and his promise of new life given to all. The Elm Ensemble leads a service of evening prayer that includes performances of Cantata 4 on Baroque instruments and Bobby McFerrin’s The Twenty-Third Psalm. Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.
Past Events
Making Melody to the Lord—A Festival of Song In Thanksgiving for God’s Gift of Music and featuring the Works of Robert Buckley Farlee
June 1, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Martin Luther once called music “that divine and most excellent gift.” This festival of song gives thanks for that gift and especially—in the year of Cantor Robert Buckley Farlee’s 75th birthday--celebrates its manifestation in his many contributions to Christian liturgical life. Sing and listen as a festival choir, nationally renowned musicians, and assembly come together to lift up the joy of making music in community
March 16, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Hyvää Urhonpäivää! Happy Saint Urho’s Day!
You’ve heard of Saint Patrick—but Saint Urho? The tongue-in-cheek legend of Saint Urho says he chased the grasshoppers out of Finland by uttering the phrase Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä (roughly translated: “Grasshopper, grasshopper, go to hell!”). In the end, the day offers all of us—Irish, Finnish, and everyone else—a time for music and a good party. Join the Ameriikan Poijat brass ensemble for an afternoon of merriment.
February 2, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Forty days after the birth of Christ, the church celebrates the festival of the Presentation of Our Lord, also known as Candlemas—the tradition of blessing and processing with candles. We gather in a service of evening prayer led by the Elm Ensemble and the Christ Church choir as we sing an ancient liturgy and experience music by Bach (Cantata 125, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin) and Elgar (The Snow).
In celebration of our congregation’s Finnish connections, Christ Church Lutheran presented a hymn festival marking the 75th anniversary of our sanctuary designed by renowned Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen as well as the publication of two new collections of Finnish hymns: The Finnish Heritage Hymnal and Lost Songs of the Suomi Synod. A recording of the event can be found here.