A complete brochure of all the music events happening at FUMC for the 2008-09 season is now available in the church office. You may also download it in PDF format here!
The same information is below.

Mid-Week Recital Series
Free Concerts in the sanctuary on Wednesdays from 12:10 - 12:40 pm followed with a reception in the Fireside Room. All are welcome!

November 12
Gisle Krogseth, guitar
Gisle received his PhD in musical science at the University of Oslo in 1986 and in 1991 won a prize at the World Festival for Theatre, where he represented Norway. He has composed many works for Chamber Orchestra, Music Theatre, Musicals, Cabarets and Chamber pieces. In 1998 he was commissioned to write the opera "Sigrid & Eindride," for choir, seven soloists and orchestra, which will be restaged in spring 2009 under the baton of Gardar Cortes, the well known Icelandic conductor. Gisle has recorded many CDs, performed for Radio and Television, published music and played numerous concerts in Scandinavia, USA, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria and England. Violinist Ophelia Nanagyulyan will assist him on his recital.

December 10
The Burton Street School Chorus, Kathy Naylor, director
The Mark Twain Ringers, Ron Theile, director
The elementary school chorus from The Burton Street School in Panorama City will join with the Mark Twain Ringers, well known for their appearances in our annual A Christmas Celebration, to bring us a delightful program of Holiday Music. Kathy Naylor grew up at FUMC, and Ron Theile has been a member of FUMC and The Chancel Choir for many years. We look forward to this collaboration as part of our Mid-Week series.

January 14
Alan Busteed, violin and Roger Wright, piano
Violinist and violist Alan Busteed has performed with the Fort Worth and San Diego Symphony Orchestras, and is a former professor at the Academia Nacional de Oquestra in Lisbon, where he was a member of Quarteto Metropolis. Since his arrival in Los Angeles in 2005, Mr. Busteed has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the Asian-American Philharmonic in Los Angeles, as guest concertmaster of the Orquesta de Baja California, and as acting principal second violinist for the Fresno Philharmonic. He has played with the Pacific, Long Beach and Desert Symphonies and is a first violinist for the St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra. He also plays in the Odyssey Tango Trio, in which he improvises as a jazz violinist.

February 11
Charles Echols, organ
Charles Echols was organist for FUMC from 1969-1972. He is now retired from the Music Department at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he taught organ and music history. He received his Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin and Doctor of Musical Arts from USC. He also studied in Toulouse, France and at the North German Organ Academy. For twenty-five years he was Director of Music at St. Mary's Cathedral of St. Cloud, Minnesota. In a series of concerts for St. Cloud State University he performed all of the organ symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor and Louise Vierne. Dr. Echols was recently Interim Organist at the famed House of Hope Prebyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

March 11
Tania Batson, soprano
Tania Batson's career has included concert, opera, recital and musical theatre performances across the United States. Ms. Batson made her New York debut at Avery Fisher Hall as Ygraine in Dukas' Ariane et Barbe Bleu with the American Symphony Orchestra. A frequent recitalist, Ms. Batson has performed at the University of La Verne, Mars Hill College, and has been a guest artist at Yale University. Tania is a native Californian and received her BA in music from Emory University and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University. She is married to FUMC's former minister, Greg Batson, and now lives in Burbank with their three sons Thomas, Daniel, and Wesley.

April 8
Luba Sorochkina, piano
Luba Sorochkina graduated with honors from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and continued her education as a post graduate at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. She has studied under such famous musicians as Yacov Milstein, Alexander Gedike and Mariya Greenberg. As a music professor at the Glinka Conservatory for 40 years, Ms. Sorchkina has taught many students, over 70 of whom are now touring artists in Russia and Europe. She is currently living in Encino, where she performs in recitals, gives piano lessons and conducts Master Classes.

May 13
Nora Chiang, piano; Armen Ksajikian, cello;
and Stirling Trent, violin
Nora Chiang, a familiar performer at our Mi-Week Recitals, returns with a new piano trio. Armen Ksajikian is principal cellist of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, associate principal of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and a familiar performing presence in LA and in international musical circles. Stirling Trent is an exciting new young violinist who studied with Itzhak Perlman at the Julliard School and is currently studying at USC for his Doctor of Musical Arts degree with world renowned violinist Midori. We welcome this new trio in their debut performance.

Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra - Honoring Dr. James Smith
Sunday, November 16 at 4 pm - The Broad Stage at SMC Performing Arts Center ($10)
Join Dr. James Smith as he completes his 15-year tenure as conductor of the SMC Symphony Orchestra with a program that features some of his favorite repertoire from those years, including works by Berlioz, Bernstien, Elgar, Goodman, Hindemith and others. More Information

A Christmas Celebration
A grand concert presentation given on the first weekend in December.

Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7, 2008 - 7:30 pm
Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Gloria by Francis Poulenc
Carols, etc. compiled and arranged by James E. Smith
Peter Graves, Guest Narrator
FUMC Chancel Choir
William Trabold, Barbara Smith - soloists
Santa Monica College Concert Chorale
Mark Twain Ringers
Los Angeles Concert Orchestra

Contact the church office, OR download the brochure, print out and complete the reservation form and return it to the church office with payment to secure tickets in advance. Advance ticket holders will be seated until 7:15 pm, at which time empty seats will be filled by those in line to purchase tickets. Plenty of free parking is available in the church garage across the street on 11th.

Lessons and Anthems - Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 9 & 10:30 am
A dramatic and moving musical service presented during Lent, juxtaposing the Passion narrative with inspirational Anthems of the season sung by our Chancel Choir.

Cantori Domino Lenten Concert - Sunday, April 5, 2009 - 7 pm
The Passion According to Saint Matthew by Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantori Domino
Jeffrey Greif, Evangelist
Eli Villanueva, Christus
Conducted by founder and Artistic Director Maurita Phillips-Thornburgh

Choir Recognition Sunday - Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 10 am
All of our choirs participate in this annual festive musical service which includes the Chancel Choir, the Youth Choir, the Children's Choir and the Youth and Amadeus Handbell Choirs.

A Festival of Music
Annual Spring Concert

Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 7:30 pm
Mass in C Major by Ludwig van Beethoven
Gloria from Messa di Gloria by Giacomo Puccini
Concerto for Organ, Strings & Timpani by Francis Poulenc
FUMC Chancel Choir
Barbara Smith, Erin Wood, Rodell Rosell, William Trabold - soloists
Christoph Bull - organist
Santa Monica College Concert Chorale
Los Angeles Concert Orchestra

Contact the church office, OR download the brochure, print out and complete the reservation form and return it to the church office with payment to secure tickets in advance. Advance ticket holders will be seated until 7:15 pm, at which time empty seats will be filled by those in line to purchase tickets. Plenty of free parking is available in the church garage across the street on 11th.

Summer Sing-Alongs - July 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2009 - 7:30 - 9:30 pm
Sing along with, or simply enjoy listening to major choral works led by outstanding guest conductors. Musical scores and refreshments will be provided. Annually offered on the four Thursday evenings in July.

Concert CDs Available
The latest CDs from the FUMC Chancel Choir may be available. Check with the church office to see which concert recordings are available for purchase. Quantities are limited.

Support
The Music Concert Series is dependent upon your generosity in order to continue. All contributions are tax deductible. Names of all persons contributing to the Music Concert Fund will be listed on all major concert programs. Amounts for suggested categories are listed below:
Sponsor - $25
Contributor - $50
Friend of Music - $125
Patron of Music - $250
Benefactor - $500 (or more)In addition, Friends of Music will receive 1 series ticket, Patrons of Music will receive 2 series tickets, and Benefactors will receive 5 series tickets. To give to the FUMC Music Concert Series in one of these categories you may send a check to the office (Concert Series, First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90403) or you may contribute online. Simply note that you are donating to the Music Concert Series.

GREAT (Manual II) GRAND CHOEUR (Manual IV)
16' Bourdon VII Grand jeu
8' Principal V Grand comet (Gt.)
8' Flute harmonique 16' Bombarde
8' Gedeckt 16' Centennial Trumpet (t.c.)
4' Octave 8' Trompette harmonique
4' Spitzflöte 8' Centennial Trumpet
2' Superoctave 4' Clairon harmonique
V Grand comet 4' Centennial Trumpet (c’’’)
IV Fourniture Chimes (Pos.)
III Cymbale

Bombarde (G.C.) PEDAL
16’ Bombarde (G.C.)
16' Posaune (ext.) 32' Soubasse (resultant)
16' Centennial Trumpet (G.C.) 16' Contrebasse
8' Trompette harmonique (G..C.) 16' Bourdon
8' Trompete 16' Bourdon doux (Gt.)
8' Centennial Trumpet (G.C.) 8' Principal (ext.)
4' Clairon harmonique (G.C.) 8' Bourdon (ext.)
4' Centennial Trumpet (G.C.) 4' Octave (ext.)
Chimes (Pos.) VII Grand jeu (G.C.)
32’ Contra Posaune (Gt.ext.)
Zimbelstem 16' , Bombarde (G.C.)

SWELL (Manual III-enclosed) 16' Posaune (Gt.)
8' Diapason 16' Basson (Sw.)
8' Bourdon 8' Trompette (G.C.)
8' Viole de gambe 8' Trompete (Gt.)
8' Voix celeste 8' Centennial Trumpet(G.C.)
4' Prestant 4' Clairon (G.C.)
4' Flute octaviante 4' Klarine(Gt.)
2-2/3' Nazard 4' Centennial Trumpet (G.C.)
2' Octavin Chimes (Pos.)
1-3/5' Tierce
III
IV
16' Fourniture
Cymbale
Basson

8' Trompette CONSOLE (movable)
8' Basson-hautbois Built by Robert M. Turner,
4' Clairon Hacienda Heights, CA, 1994
Tremulant Computerized multiplex electronics by Solid State
Logic, Ltd., England
POSITIF (Manual 1 - enclosed) Combination pistons (16 levels):
8' Viola 14 General, 8 Manual, 6 Pedal with list sequencer
8' Cor de nuit 4 Programmable Crescendos
8' Erzähler
8' Erzähler celeste
4' Prestant
4' Flute a fuseau
2' Doublette ORGAN BUILDERS
1-1/3' Larigot Casavant Brothers, Ltd., Canada, 1953/60
IV Fourniture Abbott & Sieker, Los Angeles, 1965
8' Cromorne M.'P. MOller, Hagerstown, MD, 1975
Chimes Harris Organ Co., Whittier, 1982
Tremulant Robert M. Turner, Hacienda Heights, 1986, 1994

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