Free Christmas choral concert, Dec. 7, St. John's, Lafayette Square

The Madrigal Singers from St. Albans and National Cathedral schools will sing music of the season in a free noon concert on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square.

The program is to include sacred and secular music of the season.

The Madrigal Singers have been featured on NPR and have toured the world presenting concerts on four continents.
Brandon Straub, organist and choir director for St. John's and the director of choral music at both schools which are affiliated with the Washington National Cathedral, will direct the 40 singers who are enrolled in grades 10 through 12.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

The presentation is one of St. John's First Wednesday Concerts, always performed without charge and lasting about 35 minutes.

St. John's was founded in 1815 and is known to Washington residents as the yellow church at Lafayette Square. It's often called the “Church of the Presidents” since beginning with James Madison who was president from 1809 to 1817, every president has attended services there. 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.

First Wednesday concerts begin at 12:10 p.m. and last about 35 
minutes. Food trucks are located at Farragut Square, two blocks away.
 
Who: The Madrigal Singers from National Cathedral and St. Albans singing seasonal music

What: First Wednesday Concerts

When: 12:10 p.m., December 7, 2016

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

How much: No charge

Duration: About 35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

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

For more information: 202-347-8766

Upcoming dates and artists of the First Wednesday Concerts are:

January 4, 2017: Concert organist Janet Yieh will play works by Mendelssohn, Messiaen, and the "Beatles" Toccata

February 1: Jazz vocalist Sara Jones will sing a Winter Escape, accompanied by the Dan Dufford Ensemble

April 5: Soloists from St. John's Choir will sing

May 3: Thomas Smith, the director of music at Christ Church, Georgetown, will play A Journey to Merrie Olde England - A Recital of English Organ Music

June 7: Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 will be played by the U.S. Air Force Strings with trumpeter Mary Bowden


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Free Christmas concert Dec. 3 at St. John's, Lafayette Square

The Madrigal Singers from St. Albans and National Cathedral schools, Washington, D.C., will sing a Christmas concert December 3, 2014 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square

The Madrigal Singers from St. Albans and National Cathedral schools will sing music of the season in a free noon concert on Wednesday at St. John's, Lafayette Square.  The 36 choristers attend grades 10 through 12 at the schools which are affiliated with the Washington National Cathedral.

According to Benjamin Hutto, who directs the singers and the music ministry at St. John's, the program will include popular tunes, medieval, sacred, and spiritual music:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Plainsong, sung in procession)

Exaltate Deo (Palestrina)

Dixit Maria (Hassler)

Ding, Dong! Merrily On High (French carol, arr. Wood)

Jesus, Good Above All Other (German carol, arr. Scott)

Stille Nacht (Grüber, arr. Humphris)

Great Day (Spiritual, arr. Martin)

There Is A Balm In Gildead (Spiritual, arr. Poovey)

A Merry Christmas (Traditional, arr. Warrell)

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Willson, arr. Huff)

The presentation is one of St. John's First Wednesday Concerts, always performed without charge and lasting about 35 minutes.

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

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 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.

All concerts start at 12:10 p.m. (with an exception in April), and last about 35 minutes. Food trucks are located at Farragut Square, two blocks away, for those on lunch break.

Who:  The Madrigal Singers from National Cathedral and St. Albans schools

What:  First Wednesday Concerts

When: 12:10 p.m., December 3, 2014

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: About 35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

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

For more information: Contact Michael Lodico, St. John's associate organist and choir director, at 202-270-6265 or 202-347-8766

Future dates and artists of the First Wednesday Concerts are:

January 7, 2015: Iris Lan plays the Complete Sonatas of Paul Hindemith on the organ

February 4: Lena Seikaly, jazz vocalist, with the Dan Dufford Trio performing works by Duke Ellington and friends

March 4: Jared Denhard, bagpiper, assisted by Michael Lodico, St. John's organist and choirmaster, performing Pipes and More Pipes

April 19 (Sunday), 4 p.m.: Spring Concert by St. John's Choir

May 6: The U.S. Air Force Strings accompanied by Benjamin Hutto performing a Handel organ concerto and other pieces

June 3: Benjamin Straley, organist at the Washington National Cathedral


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Free holiday concert by National Cathedral and St. Albans singers at St. John's, Lafayette Square, Dec. 4

The Madrigal Singers from National Cathedral and St. Albans schools under the direction of Benjamin Hutto (far left)

To celebrate the holiday spirit in a peaceful, stained-glass setting before your calendar fills with parties, why not a free concert by Madrigal Singers?
 

The public is invited to attend a noontime performance on December 4 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, the host of First Wednesday concerts every month from October through June.

At the December presentation 36 students from the National Cathedral and St. Albans schools will sing traditional hymns and secular songs, medieval and contemporary selections for Christmas and Advent, under the direction of Benjamin Hutto.

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

Other St. John's First Wednesday programs, all starting at 12:10 p.m., are:

January 8, 2014 (2nd Wednesday): Organist Richard Fitzgerald improvises on themes from the stained glass windows of St. John's

February 5: Soloists from St. John's Choir perform baroque music for Valentine's Day

March 12 (2nd Wednesday): Virtuoso Organist Dongho Lee performs Charles Ives's Variations on "America" and other works

April 2: The U.S. Air Force Strings conducted by 2nd Lt. Shanti Nolan, with Michael Lodico, organist, perform Francis Poulenc's Organ Concerto

May 7: Easter music for trumpet and organ with A. Scott Wood and Benjamin Hutto

June 4: Organist Alan Morrison

Who on December 4:  Madrigal Singers from National Cathedral and St. Albans sing seasonal selections, directed by Benjamin Hutto

What:  First Wednesday Concerts

When: 12:10 p.m., December 4, 2013

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

How much: No charge

Duration: About 35 minutes

Wheelchair accessible

Metro stations: McPherson Square, Farragut North, or Farragut West

Food trucks: Located two blocks away at Farragut Square

For more information: Contact Michael Lodico at 202-270-6265, Michael.Lodico@stjohns-dc.org.

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