Village Presbyterian Church in Johnson County announces a joyful season of concerts

Village Presbyterian Church is a cultural treasure. Not only does the church serve as a venue for local arts groups like Bach Aria Soloists and the Kansas City Chorale, it also presents its own series of free concerts, making fabulous music available to all.

Village is currently searching for a permanent director of music, but principal organist Elisa Bickers and Josh Maize, who are serving as co-interim directors, have put together a terrific series. Of course, there’s a lot of choral and organ music, which is to be expected at a church with one of the finest organs in the city, but there’s so much else, as well.

From marimba music to wind ensembles, string quartets to jazz, Village is offering something for every taste.

If you’re looking for a mental health break, the Second Thursday concerts are very restorative. The programs, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., give you a chance to lift your spirits and clear your mind in the midst of a busy workday. There’s also an artist’s reception following each concert in the welcome center, so you can chat with the musicians.

“We are very excited about our Second Thursday series,” Bickers said. “We’ve got a wider array of styles of music than we’ve ever had before. We’re starting with solo marimba music performed by Theodore Musick. He is just a mean machine when it comes to playing marimba. In October there’s Deanna Ray, who is a singer/songwriter. We’re all going to be reminded of Joni Mitchell when Deanna sings in our chapel.”

There are also concerts by two string quartets headed up by violinist Sascha Groschang; an organ recital by Lucas Fletcher, the new associate organist at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral; a Valentine’s concert by soprano Rachel Priest; and on April 10, the Washington University Choir.

“They will just happen to be passing through here, so we said come and sing on our series,” Bickers said. It’s unusual that a choir would want to do a half-hour concert, but actually it works really well for high schools and touring college choirs, so I think we’ll try to keep doing that.”

Speaking of choirs, the regular series is filled with joyful singing. For example, on Oct. 12, the Youth Chorus of Kansas City will perform.

“It’s one of the top children’s choir organizations in the area,” Maize said. “Village Church is always thrilled when we can host their performances. Their concert at Village this year is titled ‘Crowded Table,’ which is centered around the song by the same name by Brandi Carlile and the Highwomen about having room for all at our table. The performance will feature over 120 singers from grades kindergarten through 12th.”

Village’s annual holiday concert “Tidings of Joy” is so popular that it’s presented twice on the same day, this year, Dec. 15. The concert is free, but donations are request for a local worthy charity. This year’s beneficiary is Jerusalem Farm, which provides home repair for low income individuals and families.

“We’ll perform the classic Alice Parker arrangement of ‘Adeste Fideles’ and a gorgeous arrangement of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter,’” Maize said. “We’re also planning to do Shawn Kirchner’s exhilarating piece ‘Brightest and Best’ which features piano, fiddle, and string bass plus much more. There will be plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in on carols as well as sit back and soak in the music.”

For many years, the Kansas City Wind Symphony conducted by Langston Hemenway has made its home at Village, where they perform several concerts a year. This year, the group has a special concert on tap.

“Our wonderful Kansas City Wind Symphony has received an invitation to perform at the Edeta Arts Festival in Lliria, Spain,” Bickers said. “On May 22, they’ll give a goodbye concert with all the repertoire that they’ll be preparing for the festival. We’re very, very proud of them. It’s going to be so exciting for them to go overseas and represent Kansas City and Village Church.”

Several concerts will show off the church’s Richards, Fowkes & Co Opus 22, a gem among Kansas City’s many fine organs. On March 17, Robert August, an organist and choir director from Texas, will give a lecture and recital about Dutch organ music.

“And that is really perfect because our organ was based on 18th century Dutch organs,” Bickers said. “So the music he’s going to play will sound right at home on that big, bad boy.”

Besides its Prairie Village campus, 6641 Mission Road, Village Presbyterian has a satellite church on Antioch Road. That church will host two concerts: EncoreKC, a local choir on Nov. 17, and the ever-popular Messiah Sing-along on Dec. 6.

Village Presbyterian is noted for its community-mindedness and its big heart. Bickers hopes that more people will discover the church’s hospitality and through its music, maybe even a touch of spirituality.

“Our sanctuary is beautiful, our organ is beautiful, piano, acoustics, etc.,” Bickers said. “We really want folks out here to experience music made in that space. But it is also primarily a worship space, so we hope that when people come and experience concerts here that they also feel very warmly welcomed to see the church side of Village church and worship with us and connect with one another and to God.”

Village Presbyterian’s season

For more information, villagepres.org.

12:15 Sept. 12. Theodore Musick, marimba

7 p.m. Oct. 6. Kansas City Wind Symphony

12:15 p.m. Oct. 10. Deanna Ray, singer/songwriter

3 p.m. Oct. 12. Youth Chorus of Kansas City

12:15 p.m. Nov. 14. Sascha Groschang Jazz Quartet

3 p.m. Nov. 17. EncoreKC! (Village on Antioch, 14895 Antioch Road)

7 p.m. Nov. 17. Kansas City Wind Symphony

6 p.m. Dec. 6. Messiah Sing-along (Village on Antioch)

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9. The Kicks Big Band

12:15 p.m. Dec. 12. Stan Kessler Trio

3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 15. Tidings of Joy

12:15 p.m. Jan. 9. Lucas Fletcher, organ

7:30 p.m. Jan. 24. Schlagzeug Percussion Ensemble.

3 p.m. Feb. 2. Kansas City Wind Symphony

12:15 p.m. Feb. 13. Rachel Priest, soprano

3 p.m. March 9. UMKC Choirs and Village Choirs

12:15 p.m. March 13. Trevor Stewart, recorder

3 p.m. March 16. Kansas City Wind Symphony

7:30 p.m. March 17. American Guild of Organists

12:15 p.m. April 10. Washington University Choir

2 p.m. May 4. AGO Bachathon

7 p.m. May 4. Kansas City Wind Symphony

12:15 p.m. May 8. St. Petersburg Quartet

7 p.m. May 22. Kansas City Wind Symphony (Spain Tour Concert)

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.