Sunday, May 23, 4 pm: John Karl Hirten, organ
John Karl Hirten, Music Director at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Belvedere, is well-known to Bay Area audiences, appearing regularly in recital at the Palace of the Legion of Honor. He has been a finalist of the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Organ Improvisation and is an award-winning composer. He will play a program of music by Bach, Buxtehude, Vivaldi, and Mendelssohn along with his own compositions.
For more information go to John Karl Hirten website
Sunday, September 26, 4 pm: Jonathan Dimmock, organ
Organist Jonathan Dimmock is well-known internationally as a recitalist, choral conductor, vocal coach, accompanist, continuo player, San Francisco Symphony musician and church organist. He has held musical posts at Westminster Abbey in London, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City, and St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis. He is co-founder of American Bach Soloists, founding director of AVE (Artists’ Vocal Ensemble), and founding President of Art to the Nations, an global organization employing artists as catalysts of positive change within the context of international deliberations. A personal friend to the late Karla Lemon, he also led the moving musical tributes during Karla's memorial service recently.
For more information go to Jonathan Dimmock website
Sunday, October 17, 4 pm: The Sanford Dole Ensemble
The popular Sanford Dole Ensemble, an audience favorite during St. John's centennial year concerts, returns to our concert series for another luminous performance of music both old and new. As a youth, ensemble leader Sanford Dole was an active participant in musical activities at St. John’s, and later grew up to become a distinguished professional vocalist and one of the finest choral conductors the Bay Area.
For more information go to The Sanford Dole Ensemble website
Sunday, November 7, 4 pm: William Bennett, oboe
Widely acclaimed as one of the country's most important and accomplished masters of the oboe, San Francisco Symphony's principal oboist Bill Bennett has shared his gifts with St. John's congregation on a number of occasions, as special musical offerings during church services. This coming fall, we are honored to present Bill in our concert series, when he brings his mesmerizing technical virtuosity and unique artistry to a full recital program.
For more information go to google pages on William Bennett, Oboe
Sunday, November 21, 4 pm: Tiffany Ng, organ
Tiffany Ng works closely with living composers to bring innovative organ and carillon music to audiences in North America and Europe. She makes her west coast organ debut with some repertoire classics in counterpoint to three premieres. Matthew Suttor's "Syntagma," commissioned by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, will receive its first west coast performance with Suttor himself joining the audience. Franco-Japanese composer Paul Takahashi's "Invisible Motions," winner of the 2005 Hinsz Prize, brings the harmonies and rhythms of Romania to the pipe organ in its American premiere, and Neil Thornock's monumental "Perpetual Undulation" will conclude the concert with a rolling wall of sound.
For more information go to google pages on Tiffany Ng, organist
Sunday, December 5, 5 pm: Marie Plette, soprano
We welcome the radiant soprano Marie Plette, a Berkeley resident and one of the most distinguished singers to emerge from the San Francisco Opera's prestigious Merola Opera program. A frequent guest artist at the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera and the San Francisco Opera, Ms. Plette will perform a special program of festive Advent music, including settings of holiday favorites and seasonal carols.
For more information go to google pages on Marie Plette, soloist
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Tickets: $20 general/$10 students.
Available after April 19 online from Brown Paper tickets;
at The Musical Offering (2430 Bancroft Way) or at the door on the day of the concert.
A reception with the artists follows performance.
Parking available. More info call: (510) 684-7563.