Fox Valley interfaith Lenten Recital Series marks 20th anniversary

Music, Lenten reflection, and interfaith fellowship are all hallmarks of the Phyllis A. Lange-Connelly Memorial Lenten Recital Series.

This is the 20th year of the series which has become a tradition in the Fox Valley.

On Sunday, March 30, organist Michael Waal will play a meditative recital on the Zimmer Tracker Organ at First Presbyterian Church, 240 Standish St., Elgin. Waal is organist/pianist at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley and has been active as a recitalist and hymn festival leader in the area for many years.

He will be joined by the Spirit Ringers, the high school handbell choir from Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church. Under the direction of music and worship director Jane McMullen, the group has been playing at local worship services and national seminars for the last several years.

Admission is free, though donations are welcome. The event is open to the public.

The culminating event is the annual Interfaith Palm Sunday Festival Concert, which features a Mass choir from many local churches, two handbell choirs, local instrumental soloists, and clergy from area churches.

It will be Sunday, April 13, at St. Catherine of Siena Church in West Dundee. The 20th annual Palm Sunday Festival will start at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13. A prelude of instrumental music will begin at 2:45 p.m.

In celebrating the 20th year, the planning committee has commissioned a piece in honor of Phyllis Connelly and the many musicians involved in this tradition. This endeavor has resulted in a piece written by nationally acclaimed composer Bradley Ellingboe. It is titled "The King of Glory" and references Matthew 21:9 and Psalm 24:7-10. It is written for choir, trumpet, handbells, and piano. This Palm Sunday Concert will be a celebration of 20 years of music, faith, and fellowship. Singers are always welcome - rehearsals are Mondays at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in West Dundee.