Third Thursdays @ Twelve (Noon) Concert Series
On the third Thursday of each month at 12 Noon from September through May (excluding Thanksgiving and the Thursday during Holy Week), Grace Church offers a series of 45-minute concerts for the benefit of the downtown Providence community and any visitors that stop by. These programs are informal and feature our resident musicians as well as guests from around the country. There is a free-will offering to help defray the costs of the series. Feel free to stay for a portion or the entire concert as your schedule allows. Upcoming concerts are posted in the church calendar at the bottom of the website as well as on the Grace Church Facebook page.
Scroll down to see the line-up of performers for the
2024-2025 Concert Season!
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Subscribe your email to the Music Mailing List to keep up with the Third Thursdays @ Twelve (Noon) Concert Series and all of our musical events at Grace Church, please contact Vince Edwards at vedwards@gracechurchprovidence.org
2024-2025 Concert Season
September 19
The Grace Church Organ Project
Join Grace Church Director of Music Vince Edwards in a conversation about the exciting refurbishment, restoration, and enhancement of the Casavant Freres organ at Grace Beginning in early October, the current organ will be removed to the Casavant factory in Saint-Hyacinth, Quebec, where it will live for about two years! Vince will discuss the details of the project, including the musical aspects of the new organ’s specification, and just what this amazing instrument will mean to Grace Church and the surrounding musical community.
October 17
Pipes and Strings
Vince Edwards, harpsichord
Noah Klein, organ
While the BIG organ is being removed, Grace musicians Vince Edwards and Noah Klein will take to the Pavilion for a concert on our LITTLE organ and harpsichord, both of which are portable. Music for each individual instrument, as well as duets, will be featured on the concert. Join us for our first-ever Third Thursday at Noon in the Pavilion, and Noah’s first concert at Grace Church.
November 21
Lute Songs by John Dowland
Jennifer Burks, soprano
Brian Bartling, lute
Soprano Jennifer Burks and Lutenist Brian Bartling team up to present a program of music by English composer John Dowland. Jennifer is a Boston-based soprano and holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory. She has a thriving studio of voice students, and particularly enjoys performing early music, and music of the Baroque and Classical periods. Brian is also a graduate of New England Conservatory and plays the lute, guitar, and bass. He has performed with various ensembles, including the Hope Collective, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Charles River Sinfonietta, and the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra.
December 19
A Mid-West Trio
Andrew Sords, violin
Daniel Singer, baritone
Johan Botes, piano
Three Cleveland-based musicians make their Rhode Island debut! Their program will include works by Rachmaninoff, Sarasate, Spohr, and Massenet.
January 16
Music for Viola and Piano
Shane Barker, viola
Shane Barker, violist, is “an avid and die hard chamber musician” praised for his “sumptuous sound and top notch musicianship” by eminent composer Eric Ewazen. Shane was a 2013 finalist in Midori Goto’s International Community Engagement Program, was one of three American violists invited to audition for Ensemble Intercontemprian in Paris as well as being invited to perform the Britten Lachrymae at Lincoln Center in a concert celebrating the composer’s 100th Birthday and presenting a program of Schumann’s complete works for viola and piano. He has organized and performed in benefit concerts for the Trevor Project, Autism Speaks, Komen for the Cure and the Veteran’s hospital in Lyons, NJ. An ardent proponent of expanding the viola repertoire, Shane has given numerous premiers of solo works by Jeremy Gill, Julia Alford-Fowler, Andrea Clearfield and Andrew Litts among others.
February 20
Oboe d’Amour: Songs of Love & Romance
Cheryl Bishkoff, oboe
Vince Edwards, piano/organ
Our favorite musical duo makes their annual return to this lunchtime concert series, playing classic works for oboe and piano. Oboist Cheryl Priebe Bishkoff, described as “a musician of incredible artistry” (Richmond News Leader), is universally recognized for her inspiring musicality, uniquely glorious sound and charismatic performing style. She is principal oboe of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and is Adjunct Artist in Music in Brown University’s Department of Music. Ms. Bishkoff will be accompanied by Vince Edwards, Organist & Director of Music at Grace Church since 2015. Mr. Edwards holds music degrees from Yale University and Bethel College. Prior to moving to Providence was Director of Music at the historic parish of St. Paul’s-on-the-Green in Norwalk, CT.
March 20
Seraphim and Cherubim: Songs for Soprano and Tenor
Jess Huetteman, soprano
Brad Kleyla, tenor
Vince Edwards and Noah Klein, piano/continuo organ
Soprano Jess Huetteman and Tenor Brad Kleyla, both Rhode Island natives, present a program of duets and solos, featuring music of Bach and Handel, as well as other works. Jess is a graduate of University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Westminster Choir College. She currently teaches at the Rhode Island Philharmonic School of Music. Brad is a graduate of Chicago’s DePaul University where he studied Sound Engineering. In addition to being an accomplished tenor, Brad is equally at home on the trombone. Jess and Brad are staff singers at Grace Church, and both are members of Collegium Ancora and Ensemble Altera.
April 17
Chamber Music from Brown University
Student Chamber Music Ensembles
from Brown University’s Department of Music
This concert will feature students participating in Chamber Music Ensembles in the Music Department at Brown University. These groups generally consist of 3-5 members and are coached by highly trained professional musicians, some of whom are Teaching Associates in the Applied Music Program at Brown.
May 15
The Path Project: Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles
The Path Project, artistically curated by Eliana Barwinski and Mahima Kumara, aims to unite individuals through the intersection of music, spirituality, and pilgrimage. This year-long project begins with rehearsals of Joby Talbot’s acclaimed work, “Path of Miracles,” and culminates in a 240 km pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago, concluding with a performance in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This sacred journey challenges participants to seek inner strength and endurance, guided by Saint James, the patron saint of pilgrims. As the project progresses, it fosters a sense of community through shared experiences. The music of “Path of Miracles” highlights five key landmarks along the Camino: Roncesvalles, Burgos, León, Santiago de Compostela, and Finisterre, the latter symbolizing ‘the end of the world.’ Performed in over seven religious languages, this cinematic piece transports audiences, inviting them to walk alongside us on this profound spiritual and musical journey.
