On Saturday, May 18 we had our final performance in the 2023-2024 season of our Community Concert Series. The Friends of Arthur Maud, a talented quartet of performers, filled the sanctuary with beautiful renditions of pieces composed by Arthur Maud, an accomplished composer and longtime Prospect Park resident. This final concert marked a departure from our usual pattern of raising money for external nonprofits; instead, we raised money for our Free Community Meals program, which allows us to offer a free meal to anyone who comes to PPUMC on the third Wednesday of every month. Our partnership with Loaves & Fishes makes these meals possible, but the extra donations received from this concert allows us to continue to supplement the food we receive from Loaves & Fishes so we can consistently offer gluten-free and vegan options. Thanks to the generosity of concertgoers, we were able to raise over $2,000 to continue these efforts!
Overall, this season of the concert series was one for the books. The season had us welcoming back concert series regulars such as the ever-impressive bluegrass group Timbre Junction, the accomplished Seymour Brass Sextet, and the talented folk duo Amaryllis. We also welcomed many accomplished newcomers to the series, including VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, Kamoinge Strings from Walker|West Music Academy, and accomplished A Prairie Home Companion veterans Pat Donohue & Richard Kriehn.
Over all 9 concerts this season, we raised nearly $13,500 for organizations such as, but not limited to: Habitat for Humanity, FamilyWise, The Center for Victims of Torture, and our neighbors at Pratt Community School. A huge thank you to all the performers for donating their time and talent, and to concertgoers for their generosity. We are grateful that we are able to continue to host the Community Concert Series and give back to our community.
Stay tuned in the coming months for announcements regarding our 2024-2025 season. We’ll see you in the fall!
