Five Fridays Lenten Concert Series; Lunchtime Concerts by Local Organists

The First Congregational Church of Madison is sponsoring lunchtime organ concerts at the church during five Fridays in Lent.  The public is invited to bring their lunch into the sanctuary and enjoy a half-hour concert of reflective and meditative music performed on the historic 1930 Möller organ by local organists.

 The performers include:

 March 25th:   Brett Terry, organist of the Scarsdale (NY) Congregational Church

April 1st:   Andrew Kotylo, Associate Director of Music of Trinity Church in New Haven

April 8th:   Brett Judson, Associate Minister of Music of First Presbyterian Church in New Canaan

April 15th:   Gary Snowbeck, interim organist of North Branford Congregational Church

April 22nd:   Nathan Bayreuther, Director of Music Ministry of the First Congregational Church of Madison

The Thomas G. Shepard Memorial Organ was built by the M. P. Möller Organ Company in 1930 and has 1,548 pipes. In early 2004 the organ narrowly escaped being ruined by the ceiling collapsing onto the pipework and mechanism.  A quick rescue effort by the A. Thompson-Allen Organ Company was mounted to safely place the organ’s pipework in trays and cover the mechanism to prevent further damage. By the end of 2004 the ceiling had been re-plastered and the pipework cleaned and repaired. Today the “Mighty Möller” once again serves the congregation of First Church with reliable distinction.

These lunchtime concerts are free to the public as the church Music Department’s Lenten gift to the Madison community.