2023 Concerts at Christ Church
Chamber Players of the Redwoods Concert – Sunday, May 7, 5:00 pm
A free chamber music concert presented by the Chamber Players of the Redwoods featuring a string quartet, a woodwind quintet, a sax quartet, and a four hands piano duo – performing music by Mozart, Pierne, Piazzola and others. Suggested donation at the door and face masks advised for those not vaccinated.
Bach On! Sunday, March 12, 4:00 pm, Christ Episcopal Church, 1428 H Street (corner of H and 15th Streets)
From Bach to Beatles, The Bach On! ensemble holds its final concert of the season. Members of the ensemble will be featured soloists with Merry Phillips playing the phenomenal Kegg Pipe Organ; Rory Pitts, Violin Bach Concerto in A minor; Holly MacDonell, Telemann Viola Concerto in G Major. The ensemble includes Jesse Alm, Katie Swisher, Stefan Vaughn, Julie Fulkerson, and Reid Blickenstaff, founder. They perform in the architectural and acoustic gem, Christ Episcopal Church.
Freshly founded Humboldt-based string orchestra, Bach On!, presents Medieval, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic-era works to play from the vast repertoire of music for string orchestra.
COVID precautions: Unvaccinated individuals are requested to wear masks. Masks are optional for those who are vaccinated
Admission is free; suggested donations of $20 — which go to support the music — are gratefully accepted.
Contact: Reid Blickenstaff for more information: reid.blickenstaff1970@gmail.com

Bach On! Sunday, March 12, 4:00 pm, Christ Episcopal Church, 1428 H Street (corner of H and 15th Streets)
Past Concerts:
Please join us for our first concert of the new year! Concert organist Ken Cowan returns to Eureka to perform on the thirty-one rank Kegg pipe organ at Christ Church on Sunday, January 15, at 3 o’clock pm. In 2008, the church installed a newly built instrument by Kegg Organ Builders and a concert series was established to promote and celebrate the music of the pipe organ – with Ken Cowan giving the inaugural concert on January 14, 2009. We are pleased to welcome him back to the Northcoast fourteen years later!
2022 Concerts at Christ Church
Our Next Concert:
NOTE: Our current COVID policy is that masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated, and masks are expected for those who are unvaccinated.
Chamber Players of the Redwoods will perform at Christ Church on Sunday, May 1,2022 at 2 pm. Attendance is free; free will donations are gladly accepted. Please bring proof of vaccination and a mask. Ensembles include a 4-hand piano duo, trombone quartet, and a work for oboe, flute and piano.
Christ Church is located at the corner of H and 15th streets. Off-street parking is available at G and 14th streets.
PAST CONCERTS:
We are excited to hold our first concert of 2022 on Saturday, March 5, 7:30 pm. Bobby Jo Valentine, award-winning Northern California singer/songwriter will present a concert of hopeful folk and pop music. “Catchy songs with good tunes and intelligent, thoughtful lyrics in the tradition of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, and Bruce Hornsby,” as described by Steven Schwartz, Tony award-winning composer of Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. “Witty wordplay, clever melodies … and the nicest guy to ever pick up an acoustic guitar” — LA Weekly.
The doors will open at 7:00 pm and attendance will be limited to the first 60. Proof of vaccination will be required at the door – a vaccine card or a photo of card. For the safety and protection of all attendees the church requires everyone to wear a mask and be fully vaccinated (up to date with your vaccines) according to the CDC guidelines.
2021 Concerts at Christ Church
We were saddened to have to cancel the concerts scheduled for 2020, especially the local groups such as the Chamber Players of the Redwoods, The Ferndale Choir, Company of Voices, and the Scotia Band ~ all of whom we have had the privilege of hosting on a regular basis. And we were especially sad not to be able to see the friends and visitors that make up the audiences for these concerts. We have missed you!
Now in November 2021, we are excited to announce our first live concert in over a year and a half!
The Chamber Players of the Redwoods will return to Christ Church for a concert on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 3 pm. This will be the first live concert held at Christ Church in a year and a half. The concert will be shorter in length and the audience limited to the first 60 people to arrive in order to provide for social distancing. Proof of vaccination (card or photo of card) will be required at the door, and masks are required to be worn indoors.
The concert is free and will feature the following local chamber groups: Arcata Bay Quartet (Cindy Moyer, Karen Davey, Sherry Hanson, and Garrick Woods), the Four Seasons Horn Quartet (Don Bicknell, Gwenda Eliason, Dick LaForge, and Michael Robertson), and Wind Energy (Jill Petricca, Justin Souza, Michael Kibbe, Paul Cumming, and Anwyn Halliday). The program ends with a tribute to Val Phillips, founder of the Chamber Players, with one of his compositions “Lullabic Digressions,” composed in 1964.
For more information on the program and the performers, please see the article in the recent Times-Standard: https://www.times-standard.com/2021/11/03/chamber-music-concerts-return/
Times Standard article, 5/21/21: Classical music celebrates the Day of Pentecost
https://www.times-standard.com/2021/05/21/classical-music-celebrates-the-day-of-pentecost/
A Concert of Thanksgiving Music Program
Online YouTube:



2019 Concerts at Christ Church
Sunday, December 1, 3:00 pm – Messiah Sing-Along
As part of our ongoing 150th Anniversary celebration, Christ Church is once again hosting a community “Messiah Sing-Along! The event is free, though donations are gratefully accepted will will support future musical events. This year’s “Messiah Sing-Along” features soloists Annika Backstrom, soprano, David Powell, tenor, and Carl McGahan, bass. The audience will serve as the chorus and all will be directed by David Powell, Christ Church Choir Director. Larry Pitts, piano and Merry Phillips, organ will serve as accompanists.
Those with scores for Messiah are encouraged to bring them and there will be scores available to borrow at the door. Whether you are a singer or not, come and enjoy this favorite traditional holiday event!
Sunday, October 13, 3:00 pm – Christopher Houlihan, Concert Organist
HoulihanConcert2019-10-13Flyer

Recent Past Concerts
Saturday, June 15th at 8:00 pm
North Coast Choral Artists
Rachel Samet, conductor
FaithCourageLifeLove
Join us for an evening of music that emphasizes our shared humanity –
an emotionally powerful & uplifting experience for both singers and audience!
Suggested Donation $15 General Admission, $5 College Students
Friday, March 8, 7:30 pm Jonathan Dimmock, Concert Organist
Please join us for an exciting concert on the Kegg organ by Bay Area organist, Jonathan Dimmock! Suggested donation at the door is $15.00. Well-known internationally as a recitalist, choral conductor, ensemble musician and church organist, he has been hailed in the media for his “musicianship, taste, and unostentatious virtuosity.” Dimmock is the principal organist at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, music director at Congregation Sherith Israel, organ instructor at Sonoma State University, and he often appears with the San Francisco Symphony.
The evening’s program will include his own arrangement of “Hoe-Down” from Aaron Copland’s suite Rodeo, David Hegarty’s Appalachian Triptych, the Magnificat primi toni by Dietrich Buxtehude, and Symphony V by Charles Marie Widor.
A reception in the parish hall will follow the performance. All are welcome!
2018 Concert Calendar
November 15 (Thursday), 7:30 pm
New World String Project
Lisa Lynne – Aryeh Frankfurter – Stuart Mason – John Weed
Join the New World String Project for an evening of Celtic, Nordic and unconventional folk music that will shake your boots, uplift your spirit and warm your heart. Nickelharpa, harp, fiddle, guitar & more
December 9 (Sunday), 3:00 pm – Ferndale Community Choir
Past Events:
November 4 (Sunday), 2:00 pm – Chamber Players of the Redwoods
Isabelle Demers, Concert Organist
Sunday, September 16, 2018, 2:00 pm
Celebration of 10th Anniversary of Kegg Organ Inaugural Concert
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the “diminutive dynamo,” Isabelle Demers, performing at Christ Church! Prepare to be spellbound by a virtuosic wizard, as she performs her own magical transcription of John Williams’ Harry Potter Symphonic Suite. Hear the full sound of the “mighty” Kegg pipe organ (now 10 yrs old) in Louis Vierne’s Carillon de Westminster. And, of course, there will be Bach!
Suggested Donation: $15
Where: Christ Episcopal Church, Eureka (1428 H Street)
Parking: Off-street parking in lot at corner of 15th and G Streets; handicapped parking on H St and 14th St; accessible ramp on 14th St. (enter through Parish Hall)
June 10 (Sunday), 3:00 pm
“Celebrating the Kegg Organ”

Join us for a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Kegg pipe organ! Local musicians will showcase the versatility of this marvelous instrument with a variety of music, including traditional Baroque trumpet and organ, a jazz duet with organ and piano, a choral anthem sung by the Christ Church Choir, and two big solo organ works. Suggested donation is $15. All are welcome!
AnniversaryConcert06-10-2018Flyer
2017 Concerts
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John Hirten will present a concert at Christ Episcopal church, Saturday July 15th at 7:30 p.m. Earlier, from 2-4 p.m. he will give a workshop on improvisation. See the flyers below this post…
A resident of the San Francisco Bay Area since 1988, John Karl Hirten is well known to audiences throughout the region, having performed regularly at such series as Noontime Concerts, Music at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Grace Cathedral, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley, and elsewhere. In connection with the San Francisco Opera’s 2002 production of Messiaen’s Saint Françoise d’Assise, he performed a recital of the composer’s music at the National Shrine of St. Francis in San Francisco. He has also appeared as organist with the San Francisco Symphony, the Oakland Ballet, the Berkeley Symphony, and American Bach Soloists, among others. He has also performed in venues throughout the country and in Europe. In 2006, he was a finalist in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Organ Improvisation.
From 1997 until 2016, He performed over 300 monthly recitals at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor on the historic E. M. Skinner organ there. Since 1995, he has been Director of Music at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Belvedere (Marin County).
A composer of a wide range of liturgical, sacred and secular works, John Karl Hirten’s music has been featured on Minnesota Public Radio’s Pipedreams program, at conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Anglican Musicians. His hymn tunes have won awards and his choral music is also regularly performed in churches and concert venues around the world.
His most recent work is a setting of Ein fest Burg (A Mighty Fortress), commissioned by organist Jonathan Dimmock, a complete Anglican Evening Service for choir and organ, commissioned by All Saints Church in Palo Alto, California, and Inscriptions, a piece for orchestra commissioned by the Mill Valley Philharmonic.
John Karl Hirten has a Master of Music degree in organ performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he studied with Paul-Martin Maki and Frederick Swann. Before that, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Classical Languages from Fordham University.
Organ Recital by John Karl Hirten
Christ Episcopal Church, Eureka, CA
July 15, 2017 – 7:30 PM
Processional in E-flat David N. Johnson (1922-1987)
Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 148 Dieterich Buxtehude (c1637-1707)
Sicilienne Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824)
Arr. Robert Gower
O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 656 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Pastorale in E major, Op. 19 César Franck (1822-1890)
Ein feste Burg (2017) John Karl Hirten (b. 1956)
Pavane pour une infante défunte Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Arr. Bryan Hesford (1930-1996)
Weeping Willow Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
Arr. E. Power Biggs
Improvisation on Names of Audience Members
Carillon-Sortie Henri Mulet (1878-1967)
Ca.60 minutes
2016 Concert Calendar
“The Colors of the Organ”
The final summer concert of the “Sundays at 4” series at Christ Episcopal Church (Eureka) will be on Sunday, August 28, at 4:00 pm. “The Colors of the Organ,” will feature three local organists performing music that displays the unique and individual tonal colors of the Kegg pipe organ. The concert is free and open to the public. Free-will donations are gratefully accepted and will be used to support future concerts. The church is located on the corner of 15th and H Streets in Eureka. Off-street parking is available at the corner of 14th and G Streets. Handicapped accessible entrance to the sanctuary is on 15th Street, between G and H Streets, through the parish hall.
From J.S. Bach to “Blues on the Flues,” you will have an opportunity hear about the different ranks of pipes on the Kegg organ – each with its own unique tone quality and ‘color.’ Much as an artist uses color in painting, composers for the pipe organ use tone color to convey their message in the music they write and the program will feature music which demonstrates the diverse capability of sound of the pipe organ. You will hear ranks of pipes that are easily recognizable to the ear (e.g., flutes, reeds, strings), as well as sounds of diapasons, mixtures, and the unique sounds of Chimes and Zimbelstern.
Performing on the Kegg organ will be three local organists: Gary K. Klemp, Organist at the Eureka Seventh-day Adventist Church, Douglas Moorehead, Organist Emeritus at Christ Episcopal Church, and Merry Phillips, Organist at Christ Episcopal Church. All three organists are members of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and have served as officers of the local Sequoia Chapter of the AGO.
Please join us for this informal, educational, and (only!) one-hour long concert. It will be a great opportunity to learn about the 31-rank Kegg pipe organ (installed in 2008) and hear music from its 1,917 pipes. Bring the family and/or friends and enjoy a delightful end to the weekend. For directions or questions visit: https://christchurcheureka.org/contact/
“An Organist and Friends” – Sunday, July 24, 4 pm
“Home and Home – A Brass Ensemble Concert” – Saturday, July 23, 7 pm
Mellifluous Medley of Music – The McKinleyville Community Choir Performs at Christ Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 26, 4 p.m.
The first of three summer “Sundays at 4” concerts will be held on Sunday, June 26, 4 pm at Christ Episcopal Church (15th & H streets), Eureka. Sponsored by the Christ Church Concert Series, the concerts are free and open to the public.
The concert also continues the series of Spring concerts offered by the McKinleyville Community Choir. This energetic choral group will perform a capella as well as accompanied by keyboard, percussion, and brass. There will be vocal solos, a duet, and a smaller ensemble offering. The musical selections are varied–familiar and some not so–and range from Classic Rock, Swing to Reggae, Classical to Spiritual.
Under the direction of Robert Keiber, the members of the choir come from Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, McKinleyville, and Trinidad, assembling weekly to prepare for and share in the joy of making music together.
Off-street parking is available at the corner of 14th and G Streets. Handicapped accessible entrance is on 15th Street, between G and H Streets.
Chamber music concert features strings, trombones, piano
The Chamber Players of the Redwoods are returning to one of their favorite concert venues with a new program of music that compliments the changing seasons. Set for Sunday, May 15 at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka at 2 p.m. in the main church sanctuary, the work of Beethoven, Brahms and others will be heard. Performed by some of the finest musicians in Humboldt County, the concerts are always free with a suggested donation at the door.
While the unifying theme of these concerts is the performing of classical chamber music, the concerts are quite varied instrumentally as well as musically. Where else could one go to hear a quartet of trombones and a Haydn string quartet all on the same program?
A welcome newcomer to the concert series is a string trio featuring three sisters, Ruth Gross, violin, Claire Gent, ‘cello, and Lydia Gross, violin. Performing delightful arrangements of well-known works by Grieg and Moreau, the three began playing as a trio four years ago under the instruction of Stefan Vaughn.
Segueing into familiar territory with Franz Haydn we hear his celebrated Quartet No. 25 in C, op. 20, a work that gets performed fairly often as it’s considered to be the composers’ first great quartet. Players include: Betty Bliss, violin, Ken Love, violin, Stefan Vaughan, viola, andEric Jones, ‘cello.
Moving on to a contemporary of Haydn, we’ll be treated to Beethoven’s great Trio in E flat, op. 1, No. 1. In 4-movements, our interpreters include Allen Lesser, violin, Susan Fowle, ‘cellette and Felicia Oldfather, piano. Going against tradition a little, the original ‘cello part will be played an octave higher on viola, or ‘cellette (small ‘cello), as the group calls it.
Last up, but always well-received is resident trombone quartet that consists of Dick LaForge, Phil Sams, George Epperson and Doug Hendricks with LaForge sometimes supplying a lower tuba part. Since there’s not a lot of music originally composed for the genre, the players are always on the lookout for cleaver arrangements. Up on the program are works by Brahms and local composer Michael Kibbe, with arrangements supplied by local musician Gregg Moore and others. Collectively, the group has over 100 years of practicing, playing and performing. Christ Episcopal Church is located at 15th and H Streets, between G and H Streets and 14th and 15th streets in Eureka.
2015 Concert Calendar
Two Upcoming Concerts at Christ Episcopal Church: Nov. 7 – “The Door Between the Worlds” and Nov. 8 – Chamber Players of the Redwoods
“Legends of the Celtic Harp” performs their new show “The Door Between the Worlds” on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church, Eureka, CA (located at 15th & H Streets). Suggested donation is $20.00. The concert and storytelling event is a dramatic journey into the realms of the Celtic ‘Otherworld.’ The acclaimed ensemble, Legends of the Celtic Harp, opens the door into this mystical world with music played on Celtic harps, Irish bouzouki, cittern, and Swedish nyckelharpa and tells the tales of that legendary land from which no one returns unchanged. Celtic harpers, Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne, and Aryeh Frankfurter, have toured extensively throughout the U.S. to sold out audiences and rave reviews.
For more information about the show, contact: (415) 642-1466
Chamber Music Performance Features Locals
plus world premiere of new work
By Franklin Stover
The Chamber Players of the Redwoods will present a concert on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka. The program will include music by Corelli, Brahms, Mozart and Kahn A uniquely singular event includes a world premiere by composer Raymond Burkhart. The concert will include some of Humboldt County’s finest musicians in a diverse program covering various types of instrumental groupings and time periods. Founded in 2010 by Val Phillips, the chamber music nonprofit gives musicians a chance to keep their skills up and to entertain classically-minded audiences. Admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted.
Works slated to be performed include Corelli’s Concerto Grosso op. 6 No. 8. Also known as the “Christmas Concerto,” it’s one of Corelli’s 12 concertos for strings and harpsichord. Composed in 1690, the work is in 6 short movements. At the time of its composition, J.S. Bach was just 5 years old. Musicians include Allen Lesser, Betty Bliss, Stefan Vaughhan and Ken Love, violins; Eric Jones and Ann Marie Woolley, ‘cello; Sue Fowle, viola; and Felicia Oldfather, harpischord.
Jumping ahead to 2015 with a newly composed piece, Raymond Burkhart’s Suite Arcata gets a first hearing. Commissioned by the Chamber Players of the Redwoods, the work is in 3 movements suggestive of the climate that is peculiar to our region. One of the movements is titled Coastal Fog. The mixed woodwind and brass ensemble features Jill Petricca, flute; Michael Kibbe, oboe; Paul Cummings, clarinet; Chris Cox, trumpet, and Aaron Lopez, bassoon. Burkhart lives in Tujunga and teaches at College of the Canyons and Pomona College. He holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Claremont Graduate University and has composed works in many genres. Currently a member of the music faculty at Pomona College, Claremont Graduate University, and College of the Canyons, Burkhart has appeared as a guest conductor and trumpet clinician and authority on the history of brass music.
Going back to more Victorian times, Annette Hull and Nancy Correll will perform a 4-hands piano duo version of Johannes Brahms’ Chorale Preludes op.122. Originally set for organ in 1896, the death of friend Clara Schumann spurred the composer to create his final great work. Inspired by a Lutheran hymn with a life after death theme, Richard Duning will read an English translation of the hymn texts before the performance.
Following Brahms is late romantic composer Robert Kahn in a performance of his Serenade in F minor, op. 73 for oboe, viola and piano. Impressed with Kahn’s natural ability, Brahms offered to mentor the younger composer, but for reasons unclear, Kahn declined. Players are Michael Kibbe, oboe; Sherry Hanson,viola and Ellen Weiss, piano. The work was composed in 1923.
Last up is Wolfgang Mozart’s Flute Quartet in C major. In 3 movements, musicians include Joseph Hazen, flute; Holly MacDonnell and Sherry Hanson,viola, and Mark Creaghe, ‘cello. At the end of the concert, a “Meet the Players”reception will follow for attendees who may wish to mingle with performers. The Christ Episcopal Church is located at H and 5th Streets in Eureka.
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On Sunday, August 23, we were delighted to offer the program “Power of Song” by Nathan and Liz Smith and Val Phillips. Dr. Nathan Smith has graciously provided a written copy of the narrative for the program which we have posted here for your viewing. Thank you!
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Sunday, August 23, 4PM
On Sunday, August 23, at 4 pm, Christ Episcopal Church opens its doors to the community with the summer’s final “Sundays at 4” concert, titled The Power of Song. Performers Liz Smith, soprano, Nathan Smith, bass, and Val Phillips, piano, will present a program and concert featuring the history of the Negro Spiritual and its importance to African-Americans from slavery to today.
Val Phillips and Nathan Smith are HSU Emeritus professors who have organized and performed this program of spirituals. Nathan has been singing spirituals nearly all of his life. Liz Smith, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods, has sung with many choirs, including Kantorei, the Chameleon’s and Ferndale Community Choir.
Val, Nathan and Liz are thrilled to be presenting the Power of Song at Christ Church.
The concert is offered free to the community. Off-street parking is available at the corner of 14th and G Streets. Handicapped accessible entrance is on 15th Street, between G and H Streets. For more information or directions, see: https://christchurcheureka.org/contact/.
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Sunday, July 26, 4:00 p.m.
“Fanfare, Sonatas, & Vignettes: with Historic Brass, Violin, & Key- board”
Travel back to the 16th-18th centuries at this event shared by a program featuring two groups of mu-sicians: a2 and Trumpet Consort von Humboldt. a2 is comprised of Bodie Pfost, trombone, Holly Roberts, violin, and Margret Gries, organist/harpsichordist. The will be playing sonate concertate from the 17th-century. Bodie is originally from Humboldt County and is currently a student at the University of Oregon. Some of you may have heard Bodie and fellow musicians in their “Musica Po-etica” concert at Christmas time last year. The second half of the program will be performed by Trumpet Consort von Humboldt, led by Gil Cline. They will be playing shorter works from the 16th-18th centuries (vignettes) along with a fan-fare or two.
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“Sounds of Russia”
LYRA, an a cappella group of five professional vocalists from St. Petersburg, Russia, will be presenting a concert of Russian choral music on Monday, June 8, 7:30 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church (15th and H Streets), Eureka. The concert is open to the public and a free will offering will be collected to support the singers’ 2015 Midwest-West Coast Tour.
This is a unique opportunity to experience a part of the enormous Russian musical heritage.
The first half of the concert will be sacred music of the Russian Orthodox Church, including works of lesser-known, but remarkable, Russian composers of the 18th-20th centuries as well as famous masters such as Tchaikovsky, Sokolov, and others. The second part of the program will be comprised of Russian folk songs: comic, lyric, dancing, and love songs. LYRA performs its own arrangements of folk songs as well as secular songs by classical Russian composers.
Come and enjoy the sounds of Russia, performed by Russian musicians! All of the singers in LYRA are professional performers, from choirs and opera houses in St. Petersburg. The smaller touring group is part of a larger community of musicians from many and various professions – including choir conductors, opera singers, and music teachers. Their love for singing unites them. In 2001, LYRA was awarded the Montreux (Switzerland) International Choral Festival diploma. In 2005, the group was given an award by the Coleraine International Choral Festival (Northern Ireland). Through their tours they hope to introduce the rich musical heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the traditions of Russian folk music to audiences across the United States.
Christ Episcopal Church is located on H Street in Eureka. Off-street parking is available on the corner of 14th and G streets. Accessible entrance is off of 14th street, between H and G streets. Please join us for this exciting concert and the reception for our Russian guests following the concert. More information on LYRA is available at: http://www.lyra-online.org. The group will have CDs for sale during the reception. For questions about the concert, contact the church: 707-442-1797.
See the flyer below: