By Al Benson
With attendees clapping and singing along, a patriotic piano concert at a Montgomery church turned lively November 8.
Internationally acclaimed Christian pianist Huntley Brown of Aurora rocked St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Montgomery in an early Veterans’ Day celebration billed as a “patriotic and inspirational” event.
Reverend Dan Haas, St. Olaf pastor, welcomed audience members and introduced Brown. Later, after Brown revealed the day was Rev. Haas’ birthday, the duo kicked up their heels in a two-man kickline.
Brown interspersed his piano pieces with commentary and video clips from past performances. Attendees were encouraged to clap and sing along when lyrics of selected tunes were projected on an overhead screen.
Admission was free. An offering was received for Huntley Brown Ministries, a nonprofit that aims to transform lives through music, outreach, and education. Proceeds from a bake sale went to the Montgomery VFW post.
A native of Jamaica, Brown was inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame in 2010, the youngest person to be inducted.