BETHLEHEM — As part of Bethlehem’s World Heritage Community Celebration, Central Moravian Church will present its Estelle Borhek Johnston Memorial Concert on Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.
The concert will bring together the 40-voice Johnston Concert Choir of Central Moravian Church, Festival Orchestra, organist Becky Lepore, Minister of Music at Central Moravian Church, as well as SATORI and Mainstreet Brass.
Conducted by Allen Frank, the central piece on the program will be “Illluminare” by American composer Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1979). The five-movement work for chorus and chamber orchestra draws on sacred Latin, Greek and English texts to narrate a journey from beauty and goodness to darkness and confusion and then a triumphant return to light.
SATORI will perform Trio Sonata No. 5 in a minor by Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767), and Mainstreet Brass will present Rondeau and Air from “Abdelazer” by Henry Purcell (1659-1695), arranged by Kevin Long; “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” by Anthony J. Showalter (1858-1924), arranged by Shari Gleason-Mayrhofer; and an arrangement for organ and brass of the “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” chorus from Cantata BWV 80 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
“Central Moravian Church is always thrilled to present the Johnston Memorial Concert for the community. But it’s even more meaningful this year as we join the music with Bethlehem’s World Heritage Community Celebration, a festival where we can fully embrace our Moravian Church Settlements as a World Heritage site,” Lepore says.
“The music selected for this concert reflects the light of God’s extraordinary love and faithfulness to all people, especially in the midst of darkness and despair.”
For more information about the World Heritage Community Celebration, visit https://moravianchurchsettlements.org/event-preview/
The Estelle Borhek Johnston Memorial Concert was established in memory of Estelle Borhek Johnston (1867-1952) by her daughter, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston Jost, and her son, Archibald B. Johnston. Through the generous endowment provided by the Johnston family, this concert is free to the public. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.
Central Moravian Church, founded in 1742, is Bethlehem’s first congregation and the oldest Moravian Church in North America. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and traditions, the congregation today joins together to experience God’s love in a caring, respectful and inclusive atmosphere. Central Moravian Church emphasizes Christian faith, hope and love.
Information provided to TVL by:
Bryan Hay
