Press Release, Trumpet and Organ in Concert, March 2011

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Trumpet and Organ in Concert

By Kathleen Fink

How many varieties of trumpets can one man play?  Come to Park Avenue Congregational Church to find out.  Internationally renowned trumpet soloist Christopher O’Hara will play everything from the mellow flugelhorn to the smallest piccolo trumpet with composer, organist, and pianist Mark Engelhardt in a concert on March 5 at 3 pm. This is the third in our four-concert series to benefit our music program.  The event takes place in the Sanctuary of the Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington.  Tickets in advance are $15 adults and $10 seniors and students; and at the door $20 and $12.  A post-concert Artists’ reception will be held in the Parish Hall.

Selections will include works from their recently released CD, “Sound the Trumpet:  Music for Trumpet and Organ” which focuses on the Renaissance and Baroque periods including pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Giulio Caccini, William Boyce and more.  They will also be performing works for trumpet and piano by Isaac Albeniz and Leonard Bernstein to provide a well-rounded program.

Chris and Mark began their association in the late 90’s when they played together in a lunch concert series sponsored by the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, where Mark was the Director of Music.  Over the years they have had the opportunity to play together often, and after their last concert at PACC, they decided to record their newly-released CD which will be available for purchase after the concert.

In addition to playing solo trumpet, Chris O’Hara is a chamber musician and an educator.  He has performed in over 2,000 events covering 47 states and 11 countries.  He is the founder of the Synergy Brass Quintet and records for the Paraclete and AAR record labels.  Chris has served on the faculties of several Institutes and Conservatories as well as presenting numerous master classes and clinics at top schools.  He has appeared on National Public Radio, NBC, WGN, and the Hallmark Channel among others.

Mark Engelhardt has been heard in concert throughout the United States as well as in England.  Mark conducts organ master classes and has a long career conducting volunteer and professional choirs in a wide range of musical styles.  He serves as Lay Associate and Principal Parish Musician, founder and director of the Choir School at Grace Church in Salem, MA.  He has been heard on the American Guild of Organists broadcast as well WCRB.   Mark has composed several works for liturgical performance.

Park Avenue Congregational Church is located at 50 Paul Revere Road at the intersection of Park Avenue and Paul Revere Road, 1 block from Mass. Avenue, in Arlington Heights. The church is handicapped accessible and on MBTA bus route #77.   For more information about this performance, or the concert series please call the Church Office at 781-643-8680 or visit www.pacc-ucc.org/events/concertseries.