Concert to honor Christ the Lord's retiring choir director and young musicians

Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 12N462 Tina Trail in Elgin, has long enjoyed the addition of classical music to its services and is blessed with many talented instrumentalists in its congregation.

For the past five years, several young musicians have worked with Henrietta Neeley, an Elgin Symphony violist and congregation member, to hone their chamber music skills and use their talents in worship.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18, the church will present a concert in honor of two of these young musicians who are graduating from high school this spring, as well as the church organist and choir director who is retiring this summer. The concert is free and the community is invited to attend.

Sarah Cowley has studied violin with Neeley since the South Elgin High School senior was in fifth grade. She is a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra program and plays in the symphony. She also has performed in her high school pit orchestras for the musicals staged by the school.

Nicklas Nelson, a senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora, is a piano student of Alexander Djordjevic , and also plays viola in the Philharmonia orchestra of the Elgin Youth Symphony program. He participates in the Achievement in Music Program for pianists, a course of instruction designed to develop strong performance and technical skills as well as a thorough understanding of music theory. Nicklas has performed in many AIM recitals and competitions.

Jason Palmer, organist and choir director of Christ the Lord, received his musical training at Northern Illinois University. He and his wife, Jamie, founded the Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance in Aurora. Currently celebrating 44 years as an organist and choir director, he was named to the 2009 class of Signature Sinfonians by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, recognizing contributions to music education during his career.

These performers will be joined by Thomas Nelson, cello (also an EYSO musician); Karl Nelson, viola; and Henrietta Neeley, violin and viola. The concert will include trios by Mozart and Beethoven; solo selections for piano by Liszt and Kabalevsky; the Preludio from the Bach Sonata for Solo Violin in E major; the Beethoven Spring sonata for piano and violin; a Handel organ concerto; and a portion of the Schumann Quintet for piano and strings.

After the performance, there will be a dessert reception with sweet creations provided by Patty Harrer, the congregation's talented pastry chef.

For information, call (847) 741-8141 or visit ctlelgin.org or www.facebook.com/ctlelgin/.