Bethlehem Brass, Cor Corps will perform at Lazarus House benefit concert
Enjoy a brass and organ concert to benefit Lazarus House at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1145 N. Fifth Ave. (Route 25), St. Charles.
The program will include performances by the Bethlehem Brass, Cor Corps, with tuba soloist Paul Loucas and organist Joshua McClure.
The Bethlehem Brass, formed in 1985 as a quartet to play for church services, now includes ensembles of 4 to 12 members. They will play music not used for church including "If I Only Had a Brain" from "The Wizard of Oz" and "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" by Duke Ellington.
Cor Corps is a 20-member French horn ensemble based in McHenry County that plays arrangements from classical (Strauss) to popular (Queen). A quintet from the group will perform and accompany Loucas on a selection for solo tuba and French horn quintet.
Paul Loucas is currently a band instructor in Elgin Area School District U-46. Prior to his teaching career, he was principal and solo tubist the U.S. Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, and while there performed in the Stellar Brass Quintet which played in many major cities of the world. He also has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Loucas has been a regular player in the Bethlehem Brass during the past year.
Joshua McClure is organist and director of worship and music at Bethlehem Lutheran. He studied with Edward Zimmerman at the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College, and while there accompanied the Wheaton College Concert Choir in their appearance at the 2007 National American Choral Directors Assn. Conference in Miami, Fla. He will accompany Loucas on piano.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit Lazarus House homeless shelter in St. Charles. Funds raised will be matched by National Mutual Benefit, a fraternal insurance society based in Madison Wisconsin. Bethlehem Brass is part of Fraternal Branch 145 of the society.
Anyone not attending the concert but wishing to make a donation can write a check to National Mutual Benefit, Branch 145 and send it to National Mutual Benefit, Illinois North Agency, 123 W. Washington St., Suite 336, Oswego, IL 60543.