The Moravian Music Foundation preserves, shares, and celebrates Moravian musical culture.

Some of the most joy-filled celebrations of Moravian musical culture are, of course, concerts, and this week and next we’ll take a look at some that are coming up soon. May 5 will be a busy day for many musicians in Bethlehem and Winston-Salem, with two wonderful concerts that make me wish I knew how to be in two places at once!

In Bethlehem, the Unitas Chorale’s spring concert will be on May 5 at 4:00 p.m. at Nazareth Moravian Church. Come be with the Chorale to sing through the passion of our Lord, with music for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. The concert features such favorites as Sorensen’s Bethany, O Peaceful Habitation; Graun’s Christ By His One Sacrifice; Antes’ Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs; Leinbach’s Hosanna; and Gregor’s In Slumber, Peaceful Slumber. Added to this “Moravian hit parade” are some that are sure to become favorites – John Mochnick’s At the Cry of the First Bird; Jim White’s Kyrie; and E. W. Wolf’s O Death Now Is Swallowed Up in Victory (from the Easter Cantata). Come and walk with brothers and sisters in the faith with this beautiful music! Gwyneth Michel directs the Unitas Chorale, and Donna Ambler accompanies on piano and organ.

And at 3:00 p.m. also on May 5, the Music@Home Series of Home Moravian Church and the Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present A Margaret Vardell Sandresky Celebration. Margaret Vardell Sandresky (b. 1921) is an organist, composer, and teacher, who has held teaching positions at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the University of Texas at Austin, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and at Salem College. Among her commissions are those funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and the North Carolina Music Teachers Association. The concert will include Prelude, Aria, and Finale for organ (2013), commissioned for the 20th anniversary of the Thomas S. Kenan III Institute for the Arts, performed by Timothy Olsen; choral anthem, Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock (2000), commissioned for the 200th anniversary of the dedication of Home Moravian Church sanctuary; Salem Seasons (2006), commissioned for the 1800 Tannenberg organ in honor of Paula Locklair and performed by André Lash; Trio III for violin, cello and piano “Along the Riverbank”, performed by Barbara Lister-Sink, piano, Jacqui Carrasco, violin, and Evan Richey, cello; and Dialogues for Organ and Strings, commissioned by the late Dr. John S. Mueller, with Susan Keck Foster, organ. Glenn Siebert will conduct.

If you’re able to attend one of these concerts, you’re in for a treat!

Next time … Moramus Chorale concerts!