Lenten Recital series contines Sunday at St. Thomas More in Elgin

Submitted by Phyllis A. Lange-Connelly Memorial Lenten Recital

The Phyllis A. Lange-Connelly Memorial Lenten Recital series continues from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 215 Thomas More Drive, off Highland Avenue, Elgin.

The eighth recital will feature organist Karl Bruhn and vocalist and flutist Jeanne Anne Aukofer.

The program will be followed by a time of fellowship and a chance to meet the musicians. Admission is free but donations are accepted to help defray costs.

Bruhn is organist and music director at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard, a position he has held for the past seven years. In addition, he is now in his third year as the choral music teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School, where he has over 200 children in his music program. Prior to this position he was the organist and handbell director at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia for 25 years. He was also the principal accompanist for the church’s senior and high school choirs.

He has been very active in the American Guild of Organists for the past 40 years. He has served in the Fox Valley Chapter as the Dean of the chapter for four years, and as program chairman for six years. During he tenure as program chair, he started the “Bach at the (Marmion) Abbey” yearly programs, and the annual Hymn Festival held at College Church in Wheaton. Currently, he is the Illinois State Convener — overseeing all the AGO chapters in Illinois.

A Kansas native, Aukofer moved to Elgin in 2004, Jeanne Anne received her music education certificate from Judson University. Her professional experience includes 11 years as a private music instructor, 5 years as a K-12 music educator, 1 year as the Director of Music at St. Bridget Church in Loves Park, as well as various vocal/instrumental performance and recording projects. She is currently in her second year as the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Thomas More in Elgin.

Twenty years ago, Phyllis Connelly, a talented and dedicated Elgin area organist, conceived of a time when Christians of all denominations would join together to reflect and celebrate Lent and Holy Week. Though she passed away last year, her dream lives on in the 19th annual Lenten Recital Series and Palm Sunday Interfaith Festival. Eleven area churches sponsor these recitals. It has been attended by more than 1,500 people annually.

For information, visit stthomasmorechurch.org or call (847) 888-1682.