Christ the Redeemer to host new concert series

Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Brecksville has announced the debut of Concerts@CRLC. The goal of the concert series stems from Martin Luther’s quote: “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” 

James C. Alfieri, director of music at CRLC, believes that Concerts@CRLC is a perfect way to complement the church’s music program and provide community outreach.

In its first season, Alfieri said, Concerts@CRLC will present a wide variety of quality music for the Brecksville community. All three spring concerts, which are free and open to the public, will take place in the sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9201 Brecksville Rd. The series is supported by free will offerings and sponsorships. 

The first concert of the series is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at 4 p.m., and will feature the Astralis Chamber Ensemble. The award-winning musicians of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, including Angela Massey (flute) and Ashley Lim (harp), will present “Voyage.”  

Massey has been a featured soloist across the country, including appearances with the Tryon Concert Association, Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC, and abroad in France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Switzerland. Singaporean harpist Lim is the principal harpist with The Orchestra Now and is also an instructor at Bard College. She has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

The program will take the audience on an exploration of music with works by Mozart, the Italian film composer, Rota, and a beautiful suite by Cras. 

On April 13, at 4 p.m., Concerts@CRLC will feature Simple Gifts. Simple Gifts, featuring Linda Littleton on violin, hammered dulcimer, 5-string banjo, bowed psaltery and recorders, and Karen Hirshon on baritone fiddle, mandolin, banjolin and banjo-guitar, has performed at major venues including the Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery, National Interchurch Center, Bethel Woods and Lincoln Theatre, as well as dozens of churches and schools. 

Simple Gifts plays a wide variety of folk and world music using about 12 different instruments. The group also offers hands-on workshops for children and adults on world music and instruments. Their repertoire includes Christian hymns in addition to traditional music from Eastern Europe, the British Isles, Appalachia, Scandinavia, and the Jewish tradition.

On May 18, at 4 p.m., Concerts@CRLC will feature the CSU Percussion Ensemble.  The CSU Percussion Ensemble is an elective performance ensemble in the School of Music at Cleveland State University. It is dedicated to the thoughtful performance of music for the modern percussion ensemble. Repertoire includes contemporary works, classics of the genre, and transcriptions from all musical periods. The members of the ensemble include graduate and undergraduate percussion majors from all areas of emphasis. Katalin LaFavre, applied faculty in percussion, directs the CSU Percussion Ensemble. A classically trained percussionist on a non-traditional path, LaFavre throws her creative energy into developing captivating experiences. Interested in interdisciplinary and experimental work, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study with French percussionist Jean Geoffroy. She remained in France for nine years, collaborating with actors, dancers, and musicians for several programs, which have been performed in France, Germany, Scotland and Portugal. These programs were vastly diverse, combining contemporary music, contemporary dance, poetry, narration, humor, and street theatre.For more information on the concert series, visit crlcbrecksville.org or contact the church office at 440-526-2303.