Sour note struck at Valley West

More than the movies

First Posted: 10/29/2013 The second concert of the 2013-2014 Arts at First Presbyterian Church series will take place Nov. 17 at 4 p.m., and will feature all the musical ensembles at the church, 300 School Street, Clarks Summit.
The major work on the program is Buxtehude&#8217;s Jesu, Meine Freude, which will be performed by the Adult and Teen Choirs, directed by Dr. Susan Kelly, music director at the church. They will be joined by soprano Jessica Hitchcock, bass Fran McMullen, and a string trio consisting of Fritz and Leah Valenches on violin and Peter Brubaker on cello. Buxtehude was a mentor to Johann Sebastian Bach, and one finds structural similarities in Bach&#8217;s later setting of this chorale tune.
Other participants in the concert will be the Chapel Choir and the Bell Choir. The concert will conclude with a performance by all the choirs of &#8220;All Ye Who Hear&#8221;, an arrangement of the familiar hymn tune &#8220;Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty&#8221;, presented in memory of long-time choir member, Steve Owens.
Dr. Kelly is one of the area&#8217;s most respected choral directors. She is the Director of Choirs at Abington Heights High School, the Director of Children&#8217;s and Youth programs of The Choral Society of NEPA, conductor of its Cantare Choir, and a member of the highly acclaimed eight-voice professional vocal ensemble, The Lyric Consort. Dick Cochrane will lead the Bell Choir, and Kay Ten Eyck, the church organist, will direct the children&#8217;s choir and accompany the choirs.
The series is supported in part by grants from the PA Partners in the Arts program and the Lackawanna County Community Arts and Culture program, and by private contributions.
There is no admission charge for this concert, but a free-will offering will be taken. For more information, call the church at (570) 586-6306 or visit www.fpccs.org.

Arts at First Presbyterian Church series continues Nov. 17