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MUSIC HAPPENINGS

The A Cappella Chorus was formed in the Fall of 1992. The Chorus is based at St. John the Evangelist   Church and is composed of volunteers from Gettysburg   to Urbana   and from  Middletown to New Market.   The number of members averages 24 with Jan Sadowski as the director and founder.

The Chorus performs the “Musical Outreach” function for the parish by performing concerts in nursing homes and assisted living centers throughout Frederick County on a regular basis. 

The Chorus also assists at services such as Midnight Mass and Good Friday during Holy Week.  In years past, the Chorus sang at selected Even Song services on Sunday evenings at St. John’s .  Also in years past the Chorus has represented St. John’s at the annual “Hymn-A-Thon” concerts to raise money for the homeless of Frederick County .

Every Christmas season the Chorus performs for the annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship” organized by the Frederick Office of Tourism.

Concerts such as “The History of Music in the Church” and “Sacredness ‘N’ Worship” are also performed within a 200 mile radius of St. John’s .  These concerts are instructional in nature, with a wide variety of musical styles and languages.  These concerts are the primary fund raising activities for the Chorus.

The Chorus has in its standard repertoire both Latin and Russian Masses which have been performed at St. John’s and Visitation Chapel and with greater frequency at the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg.   As an example, in the year 2008 the Chorus sang Missa Eterna Christi Muneara by Palestrina (a Latin Mass setting), for 3 noontime Masses at the Grotto.

The Chorus most recently (July, 2009) collaborated with the St. John Adult Choir in the performance of a Candlelight concert at Bruton Parish in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Chorus is always looking for talented volunteers who would like to share their gift of song with shut-ins and the faithful.  Musical training is not required - just the passion of lifting ones voice to the Lord.    If you are interested in contacting the Chorus, please contact Jan Sadowski at (301) 845 – 2882.

Members of the A Cappella Chorus Following a Candlelight Concert at Bruton Parish in Colonial Williamsburg , July 18, 2009