"Music: the very breath of God"   - Van Cliburn
 

Organist John Weaver Saturday, February 4 7:30 PM   When the Presbyterian Church (USA) decided to produce a new hymnal in the 1980s (the one with the blue cover we now use at PPC), one of the people selected for the committee was John Weaver; in fact, a good deal of his communion and service music is in the back of The Presbyterian Hymnal (Nos. 565-571). John Weaver will be the featured artist on the next Friends of Music at PPC on Saturday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m. He will be leading a hymn festival playing many of his organ pieces based on hymn tunes and the congregation will sing the hymns accompanied by the Kirk Choir. Dr. Weaver, who served for 35 years as Director of Music and Organist at Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church in New York City, has been considered the dean of Presbyterian church musicians for many years. He was also chairman of the organ department at The Juilliard School from 1967-2004.  Weaver traces his love for the "King of Instruments" back to his childhood. His formal musical studies began at the age of six in Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory when it was discovered that he had perfect pitch. At age 14, he became organist of a Baltimore church and played his first organ recital. His undergraduate study was at The Curtis Institute from which he graduated in 1959. Dr. Weaver was appointed Director of Music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, a post he held for 11 years. During this time he also spent two years in the Army as organist/choir-director of the Post Chapel at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary, studying with Robert Baker. He has written numerous articles for organ and church-music magazines, has served as President of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. The American Organist magazine named him among the 101 most notable organists of the 20th century. This is your chance to experience the artistry of a Presbyterian Church legend . INVITE YOUR FRIENDS - FREE ADMISSION

Norwegian Vanse Guttekor Deo Gloria and Danish Vor Frue Kirkes Drenge-og Mandskor in Concert Tuesday, February 28 7:30 pm Norwegian boy's choir Vanse Guttekor Deo Gloria returns to PPC, this year with Danish boy's choir Vor Frue Kirkes Drenge-og Mandskor. In addition to an eclectic offering of Norwegian, Danish and American treble-choir music, the program includes "Jonah - a liturgical drama."  FREE ADMISSION