Free noon strings and organ concert at St. John's, Lafayette Square, May 6

The U.S. Air Force Strings Chamber Orchestra will play at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, in a free noontime concert May 6, 2015.

The U.S. Air Force Strings Orchestra with organist Benjamin Hutto will play the music of George Frederic Handel and Felix Mendelssohn in a free lunchtime concert at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, beginning at
12:10 p.m. Wednesday.

On the program are Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 2 in D and Handel’s Organ Concerto in B flat and his Rodrigo Suite. 

Without a conductor or sheet music, the 20 active duty Air Force musicians can play Broadway show tunes, classic rock, bluegrass, patriotic, and classical symphonic selections.

All are invited to the concert, a lovely respite in the middle of the day.

St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

Hutto is the director of music ministry and organist at St. John's and the director of choral activities at St. Albans School for Boys and the Washington Cathedral School for Girls. He is a fellow and past president of the Royal School of Church Music in North America, and the composer of several hymns included in the 1982 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church.

Benjamin Hutto, director of music ministry and organist, St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.

St. John's, known to many Washington residents as the yellow church at Lafayette Square, is often called the “Church of the Presidents.” Beginning with President James Madison who served the office from 1809 to 1817, every president has been a member of St. John's or has attended services at the church. A plaque at the rear of St. John's designates the pew where President Abraham Lincoln often sat when he stopped by the church during the Civil War.  Next year St. John's will celebrate its bicentennial.

For those on lunch break Wednesday, food trucks are located at Farragut Square, two blocks away.

Who:  The U.S. Air Force Strings with organist Benjamin Hutto

What: Music of Handel and Mendelssohn

When:  May 6, 2015, 12:10 p.m.

Where: St. John’s, Lafayette Square, 1525 H Street, NW, at the corner of 16^th, Washington, D.C. 20005

How much: No charge

Duration:  35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square (White House exit), Farragut North, or Farragut West

For more information: Contact Michael Lodico at 202-270-6265 or 202-347-8766

The last of this season's First Wednesday concerts at St. John's is set for June 3, 12:10 p.m. when Benjamin Straley, organist at the Washington National Cathedral, will play.

patricialesli@gmail.com