August 2007
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois, begins its 11th consecutive season of free public arts activities for the community. Conceived as a means to welcome the community to St. John’s in a warm and inviting way, the annual Artist Series has become a mainstay in the congregation’s outreach to residents of Lombard and the surrounding communities.
Piano Duo
Leading off the new season will be the husband and wife collaboration of Karin Redekopp and Mark Edwards, a piano duo team. Their 20 fingers will grace the 88 keys of the Yamaha piano in St. John’s sanctuary.
Prior piano virtuosi appearing in the Artist Series included such notables as Jim Hendricks and Chicago jazz great Willie Pickins, but never has the Artist Series presented a pair of performers playing the same instrument simultaneously. They will appear on Sunday, September 10, at 3 p.m.
Organ Recital
Last fall, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, a Martin Luther hymn festival was presented by noted composer and organist Michael Burkhardt. The new season, bringing the anniversary year’s celebration full circle, will feature an organ recital by Dr. Steven Wente, music department chair at Concordia University Chicago.
Widely known as an organ and liturgical scholar, Dr. Wente will perform on St. John’s instrument on Sunday, October 15 at 3 p.m.
Harp Twins
A pair of talented young women who happen to be sisters – and twins at that – will appear in the Artist Series on Sunday, November 26. Graduates of Wheaton College’s Music Conservatory, Camille and Kennerly Kitt, internationally known as the Harp Twins, will perform on their concert grand harps, as well as electronic instruments.
Breaking boundaries between different genres of music, the duo has amassed over a million fans across their social media sites and over 50 million views on their YouTube music videos. Their performance will begin at 3 p.m.
Gospel Choir
Moving into the new year, audiences will clap their hands to the sounds of the Wheaton College Gospel Choir, which will perform on Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 3 p.m.
Formed by students since 1986 and ranging from various backgrounds and cultures, the choir has expanded its ministry from the campus to include churches, homeless shelters, schools, and even prisons, as they carry the Gospel of Christ throughout the area through their music. Their highly charged and energetic programs have earned them rave reviews wherever they have appeared.
Trillium Quartet
To complete the 2017-2018 Artist Series, St. John’s will welcome Trillium, a talented quartet performing an array of Celtic, ragtime, bluegrass, and Dixieland music, using an array of instruments, including fiddle, bass, and hammered dulcimer.
Trillium will present its concert on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at 3 p.m.
Admission Free
There is no admission charge for any of the events in the Artist Series at St. John’s. A free-will offering will be received to defray the costs of the programs.
“We are delighted to be entering our second decade of high quality arts experiences here in Lombard,” commented Fred Hoebel, a member of the Artist Series team. “To be able to offer such events – free – to the public on a regular basis is our way of reaching out in a welcoming manner to all who would attend. It is also a testament to the support we have received for these events over the years.”
An informal reception with refreshments will follow each event. Continuing an effort that has met with much approval, a display of visual art will be featured during each reception. Works by local professional artists, possibly including painters, potters, photographers, textile artists and others, will be available for viewing and for purchase.
St. John’s Lutheran Church is located at 215 S. Lincoln Street, on the southeast corner of Lincoln and Maple in Lombard. Information about St. John’s Artist Series is available by calling the church office, 630-629-2515.