MADISON — Grace Community Music at Grace Church Madison presents Friday noontime organ meditations throughout Lent, starting February 16. The recitals commence at 12:15 p.m. following a brief five-minute noonday prayer and conclude at 12:45 p.m. These concerts are free and open to the public, with the organ console and pedals projected onto the wall for enhanced audience viewing.
Dr. Anne Matlack, organist/choir director at Grace Church, continues the longstanding tradition of Friday Lenten Organ Recitals, established in the 1950s by her predecessor, Helen E.J. Thomas. The series begins with Dr. Matlack’s tribute to American organist and composer Charles Callahan, followed by a preview of the February 25 full recital by acclaimed duo organists Brian Harlow and Christopher Jennings on February 23.
Organ Scholar Henry Marinovic, a graduate of Madison High School, takes the stage on March 1, including the premiere of an original work. On March 8, Anthony Hammond, music director at St. Peter’s Church, Morristown, performs works by J. S. Bach and Max Reger. Dr. Anne Matlack returns on March 15 with her third annual recital of works by female composers. The series concludes on March 22 with the annual Helen Thomas Memorial concert featuring alto Patricia Ruggles singing favorite Bach arias.
Additionally, the Grace choir sings a candlelit Chanted Compline after Thursday’s choir practice during Lent from 8:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., welcoming the community to experience fifteen minutes of candlelight calm to end the day.
Dr. Anne Matlack, celebrating her 34th year as music director at Grace Church, also serves as the Artistic Director of the acclaimed Harmonium Choral Society. She pursued organ studies with Charles Krigbaum at Yale and David Mulbury at The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Grace Church is located at 4 Main Street. (Route 124) at the corner of Kings Road and Route 124.
For more information, contact the church at (973) 377-0106 or visit www.gracemadison.org. The concerts will be live-streamed and available for viewing on their YouTube channel @GraceChurchMadisonNJ.
