Attend hymn festival for your listening pleasure

The Bethany Art Series and the Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists bring to Crystal Lake "The Light of God" hymn festival featuring children's and adult choirs, handbells, brass, congregation, organ works and lessons.

The festival will be led by organist John A. Behnke, a professor of music at Concordia University in Mequon, Wis.

It will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake. Admission is free.

One of the highlights of the hymn festival will be the commission premiere of "For All the Saints" for congregation, handbells, children's and adult choirs, brass and organ.

This piece is in memory of Carol Heisler for her contribution to the music ministry at Bethany throughout the years. Carol Heisler, held a degree in vocal performance at the American Conservatory in Chicago, married Jim Heisler and moved from Fox River Grove to Crystal Lake. Carol became a certified teacher and taught with her husband in Fox River Grove, District 3. She taught choral music while her husband Jim taught band.

Carol produced many musicals with the youth choirs at Bethany Lutheran Church in the 1980s. She was a member of the Bell Canto choir, Bethany's handbell choir, which she named.

Behnke's creativity shines through his treatment of choirs and congregation in hymn singing. In addition to being a professor, he teaches organ and directs The Alleluia Ringers. He is also organist at Historic Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Milwaukee. He is a frequent organ recitalist, handbell clinician. He enjoys composing and arranging having handbell, choral, and organ compositions in print with 17 different publishers in the United States, Germany, and Taiwan. He is a graduate of Concordia River Forest and Northwestern University.

Be part of a world premiere of a composition that will be performed for the first time at Bethany Lutheran Church. A reception will immediately follow the concert.

For information, call the church office at (815) 459-2690 or visit the Web site at www.bethanylc.com.