New England Congregational Church in Aurora will be a partner with the Fox Valley American Guild of Organists in a hymn festival featuring eight guest organists at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14. They will perform in a concert in the church sanctuary at 406 W. Galena Boulevard in Aurora.
The public is invited. Admission and parking are free.
Event co-chairs are New England organist Marsha Foxgrover and Steven Wente of Concordia University. Guest organists, members of the Fox Valley AGO chapter, will be Adam Gruber, Oak Park; Nicholas Hansen, Sycamore; Daniel Schroeder, Batavia; Marianne Kim, Oak Brook; Barbara Masters, Elmhurst; Andrew Maya, Aurora; Karl Bruhn, Lombard; and Jeff Neufeld, Elgin.
Featured soloist will be Anthony Adduci, 13, who will perform “Wachet auf” by J.S. Bach.
Preceding each hymn will be a short introduction by Dr. Jane Holstein, former keyboard editor of Hope Publishing Co.
Congregational hymn singing will be accompanied by the Stonegate Brass Ensemble directed by Paul Semanic. New England chancel choir director Paul Laprade will conduct brass/organ segments. A reception will conclude the festival.
—Al Benson