Concerts
Believing that music is a window to the presence of the Creator, Asylum Hill Congregational Church presents concerts as a community outreach that combines nationally and internationally-known performing artists with the musical and artistic gifts of the Greater Hartford region and Asylum Hill Congregational Church. With multiple events and varied styles, all are welcome to can experience the music they love while supporting the music ministry of AHCC. Volunteers are needed to assist as ushers, hosts, food prep and ticket sales.
2018-19 Music on the Hill Concerts
Music for Humanity Concerts join the music and outreach ministries of Asylum Hill Congregational Church. This endowed music series presents community concerts in AHCC’s historic sanctuary. Since presentation costs are covered by this fund, all proceeds from ticket sales are directed to Hartford area service agencies and community programs supported by the church. Tickets: $20 per concert.
November 4, 4pm – Considering Matthew Shepard, by Craig Hella Johnson. This new oratorio, written in 2016, recounts the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. Johnson weaves together a vast range of musical styles to reflect the universality of this story. The UCONN Chamber Singers will join CONCORA to mark the twentieth anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death. Jamie Spillane will conduct, with Chris Shepard at the piano. Purchase tickets online
*Agency Beneficiary: True colors, Inc.
December 8, 7:30pm – Choral Masterworks Christmas Concert – The Asylum Hill Sanctuary Choir, instrumentalists, and soloists, under the direction of Jack A. Pott, present four short choral masterworks for the Christmas season: A Ceremony of Carols, by Benjamin Britten, Carols & Lullabies of the American Southwest and A Christmas Garland, by Conrad Susa, and Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, by Francis Poulenc.
*Agency beneficiary: My Sisters’ Place
March 23, 8pm – Jazz Samaritan Alliance - A collective of composer/performers who have united to create and present original, socially conscious jazz, charter members Kris Allen (alto saxophone), Noah Baerman (piano), and Chris Dingman (vibraphone) will be joined by other accomplished performers for a program of pieces composed for the occasion that addresses the topic of health care. This event is produced in conjunction with Resonant Motion, Inc. and the Inner Arts Initiative.
*Agency beneficiary: Malta House
Additional Concert Events for 2018-2019
September 28 - Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival – Opening Concert – 7:30pm
Free Admission – donations accepted
Featuring our Aeolian-Skinner Organ, and four-manual Austin console, this opening concert will present the Poulenc Organ Concerto with the Festival Orchestra: Christopher Houlihan, Organist; Vaughn Mauren, Conductor. Also performances by 2018 Judges: Chelsea Chen, Renée Anne Louprette, and Benjamin Straley.
November 10 – The Sound of Music – Movie Musical Sing-a-long! – 6:30pm
Free Admission - donations of non-perishable food item will be collected for our crisis food pantry.
Come for a fun-filled evening of watching this classic Julie Andrews musical on our two 90” sanctuary screens, complete with subtitles so that the whole audience can sing along! As part of the fun, costumes are encouraged!
December 16 – Voce Christmas Concert – Messiah, Part 1 – 4pm
Tickets available at www.voceinc.org/
Join Voce, New England’s Chamber Choir, along with soloists and the newly-founded Voce Chamber Orchestra in the most celebrated choral work ever written. The performance will include all of Part I of Messiah, closing with the beloved, "Hallelujah Chorus." Voce will bring an inspiring and informed performance of this magnificent work to celebrate the holidays in the spirit of harmony.
January 4-6 – 52nd Annual Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival
A medieval celebration of Epiphany through music, dancing, pageantry and live animals. After each of the five performances, all are invited to Drew Hall after the performance for a gala reception where the ferocious boar’s head, the mince pie and many of the festival properties are on display. Demand is heavy for the 4,000 available reserved seating tickets, and patrons are encouraged to purchase them as soon as they go on sale November 5. See the church website for more details.
March 10 – IX Chopin International Piano Competition – Winner’s Recital – 3pm
Tickets $25 at the door (cash or check). Student tickets $20.
A 5-day competition featuring an international panel of judges, and pianists from over 18 countries playing our Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano, culminates in a spectacular winner’s concert. Presented by the Connecticut Chopin Foundation, Inc. For more information, please visit www.chopincompetition.org/
March 30 – Women Composers Festival of Hartford - Feature Performance - 7:30 pm
Tickets (Suggested Donation): $30 General Admission, $15 Students/Seniors
The Women Composers Festival of Hartford (WCFH) continues its annual tradition of celebrating the diversity of women’s music. The Feature Performance showcases the 2019 WCFH Ensemble-in-Residence, Nouveau Classical Project, performing a newly commissioned work by 2019 WCFH Composer-in-Residence, Jennifer Jolley, as well as pieces chosen from the 2019 International Score Call. For more information, please visit www.womencomposersfestivalhartford.com
April 7 – Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents an organ concert with Faythe Freese - 4 pm
Free and open to the public
Faythe Freese, Professor of Organ at the University of Alabama School of Music, will present a program of organ masterworks on AHCC’s mighty Aeolian- Skinner organ. Dr. Freese was the first American woman to record at L’Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, on the landmark instrument where Guilmant, Messiaen, and Hakim were titular organists. She has been a featured lecturer and concert artist at the national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists in Boston, Washington, D.C., Greensboro, NC, and San Antonio.
April 19 – Good Friday – Stabat Mater, by Paul Mealor – 7pm
Free
The AHCC Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra, directed by Jack A. Pott, present this beautiful new Stabat Mater setting by Welsh composer, Paul Mealor. The text of this 13-century hymn is a powerful meditation upon the suffering of Mary during the Crucifixion, and takes the listener on a journey from darkness, despair and suffering to light, rest and final, everlasting peace.
