Enjoy Contemporary Organ Music, Support Women’s Empowerment
Hope Church Organist, Rhonda Sider Edgington, will present her now-annual spring organ concert on Sunday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m. at Hope Church. “Everyone Dance!” is a program of organ music that is influenced by the music and times in which we live. The concert will benefit the Red Cord Community, a new organization in West Michigan dedicated to the formation of a two-year residential community for women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, addiction and abuse.
The concerts title, “Everyone Dance!” is taken from one of Calvin Hampton’s Five Dances for Organ Solo (which will be played). Rather than performing old favorites by Bach, or traditional hymn arrangements, Rhonda will perform works composed mainly by American composers in the last 25 years, including the U.S. premier of two pieces. In addition, over half of the pieces that will be performed are written by women, something that is somewhat of an anomaly for classical concerts today.
Through written and spoken program notes, Rhonda will help audience members understand the musical influences and extra-musical connections. Rhonda hopes to show people that “contemporary organ music” doesn’t necessarily mean something off-putting or foreign to our ears. It’s not all music for dancing either; but is, in turn, joyful, sombre, reflective, dramatic, pensive, even humorous.
There is no admission fee, but an offering will be taken at the door for the important work of the Red Cord Community. During the concert, Red Cord Community founder, Lorilyn Wiering, will share some of her inspiring vision for this community and the ways in which others can get involved. All are invited to come and be surprised by the variety of sounds and inspirations possible with organ music today, and to learn more about the Red Cord Community.