Concerts and Special Events for the Fall of 2010

• Brass Band Benefit Concert - The St. Francis Brass Band will present a concert  on September 25, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.  The concert will benefit the Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network and will feature Scott and Cortney Baker on piano and violin, Fiddler Time by the Suzuki Fiddlers, a sing-along to The Music Man, and a surprise tune during the offertory.  Thanksgiving in September? Yes, and Christmas and Easter too!   Admission is free and childcare for younger children will be provided.  

•  A Movie Classic ~ Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925) accompanied by organ virtuoso Walt Strony on October 29, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.   Long before there was surround-sound there were theatre organs.  Come experience a night out at "the picture show" the way your grandparents did.  This family-friendly fall event is presented by the St. Francis Music Ministry for the benefit of the Appalachia Service Project (ASP).   World-renowned organist Walt Strony will improvise an original score to this classic silent film from the first Golden Age of Hollywood.   Audience costumes are encouraged.  A concession-stand reception to greet the artist will be held in the MPR after the show.  See you at the movies!
  
  
• Children's Christmas Musical - The Saint Francis Children's Choirs will present their Christmas musical during the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 5.
  
  
• Christmas Cantata - Saint Francis Choir and Orchestra will present a Christmas Cantata during both worship services on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010.
  
  
• Brass Band Mini-Concert - Saint Francis Brass Band will present a mini-concert of Christmas music following the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 19.
  

Major Events of the Past Few Years

• Informal Concert - St. Francis Choir presented an informal concert at Duke Chapel on Sunday, June 27, at 6:00 p.m.
  
  
• Cinco de Mayo Celebration  - Miguel Cortes and his family presented Mexican Folk Dances, complete with costumes, on Wednesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.  There was also a mariachi band.
   
• Choral Concert for Haiti - All vocal choirs (Saint Francis Choir, Cantamos, Saintly Singers, Choir Partners, Women's Ensemble, and Men's Ensemble) presented a special concert on Saturday, May 1, at 6:00 p.m.  Donations were accepted for the benefit of UMCOR's Haiti relief fund.  To see a program from this perfomance,  click here.

• Discovering Christ.... Serving Others
  St. Francis Children's Choirs presented their spring musical, Discovering Christ.... Serving Others, during the 11:00 am worship service on Sunday, April 11, 2010.  To see the Bulletin from this service, click here. 
  

• The Art of Transcription  - or - "Totally Inappropriate Music (for the organ)"
  Scott Baker presented this organ recital on Saturday, February 20, at 5:00 pm.  The concert featured original transcriptions of works from genres outside the realm of the keyboard.  Highlights included Symphonic Works,Opera Overtures, Sousa Marches, and Film Music by John Williams—including excerpts from Harry Potter, Jaws, and Star Wars.  Free-will donations were accepted for the benefit of ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphan Endeavour).  To see a program from this performance, click here.  Click the Play button below to hear a selection from this recital.

    Prelude and "Toreador Song" from Carmen
  Bizet/Baker
  
  

  To hear more from this recital, click here.
  

• Amahl and the Night Visitors
  St. Francis Choir presented a fully-staged production with orchestra, soloists, and dancers of Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, on Friday, December 11, at 7:00 pm and on Saturday, December 12, at 6:00 pm.  The performance also featured some a cappella  music by St. Francis Choir.  The concert benefitted Appalachian Service Project.  To see a program from this performance, click here. 
  
  
• Radio J-O-Y!
  St. Francis Children's Choirs presented their Christmas musical, Radio J-0-Y!, during the 11:00 am worship service on Sunday, December 6, 2009.  To see the Bulletin from this service, click here.  To see the list of cast members, click here.
  
  
• Brass Band Benefit Concert
  This concert on October 24, 2009 benefitted the Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network.  The concert featured several guest soloists and a sing-along to My Fair Lady.  To see a program from this concert, click here.  Click the Play button below to hear a selection from this concert.

• Handbell Concert
  All SFUMC handchime and handbell choirs performed a benefit concert for the Interfaith Food Shuttle on Sunday, May 3, 2009.  Selections included classic 1950's rock, jazz standards, fold tunes, spirituals, and film music.  To see a program from this concert, click here.

• Stringed Instruments and Organ: A Musical Celebration of Psalm 150
  Scott Baker, featured on organ and piano, with various instrumentalists and vocalists joining him performed a musical repertoire inspired by Psalm 150 on Saturday, April 4, 2009.  This concert benefited The Carying Place.  To see a program from this concert, click here.  Click the Play buttons below to hear selections from this concert.

• Choral Festival Concert
  This concert on Saturday, March 21, 2009 was the culmination of a weekend-long Choral Workshop conducted by Donald Nally, Chorus Master of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  More than 100 area singers representing 7 different churches/choral organization participated in the Workshop and Festival Concert.  To see a program from this concert, click here .  Click the Play buttons below to hear  selections from this concert. 

Kyrie from Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd.

A German Requiem, Movement 2 by Johannes Brahms
Accompanied by Scott Baker on piano

Due to copyright laws, only music which is in the public domain is contained in the audio files on this web site.  These audio selections do not reflect the diverse repertoire of the St. Francis Music Ministry.