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First Church Concerts

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST - 250 Main Street - Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109
DAVID SPICER, Minister of Music and the Arts - DAVE GILBERT, Assistant in Music and the Arts
Music Office (860) 529-1575, ext. 209 - Fax (860) 721-7861 - music@firstchurch.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2008 - A Public Service Announcement

A Festival of the Music of Roberta Bitgood

The Choirs of First Church of Christ

Guest Conductors, Soloists, and Instrumentalists

David Spicer, Organist

Celebrating Dr. Bitgood's Anthems, Solos, and her Cantata Job

Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 6:00 PM

First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, Connecticut

Connecticut composer Dr. Roberta Bitgood (1908-2007) was a pioneer of 20th-century American church music and the first woman elected national president of the American Guild of Organists. First Church of Christ in Wethersfield will honor her memory with a special concert on Sunday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. This Festival will include music of hers that was presented at First Church in 1994 under the composer's personal direction, and a few additional compositions from her oeuvre.

In addition to publishing more than 70 works, including two choral cantatas based on biblical narratives, Dr. Bitgood was known to organists worldwide as a committed yet down-to-earth choir director, organist and teacher. She served in churches throughout the United States.

David Spicer, Minister of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ, will be at the console of the Austin pipe organ, as he was when Dr. Bitgood was there in 1994. The church's children's, youth and adult choirs will sing. Soloists will be Nancy Andersen, Soprano (Be Still and Know that I Am God); Elizabeth Saunders, Mezzo-Soprano (The Greatest of These Is Love); and for the cantata Job: Christopher Dukes, Tenor, as the Lord; Raymond Calderon, Tenor, as Job; Stewart Battle, Bass/Baritone, as Satan; and Linda Henderson, Soprano, as Job's wife. Flutists will be Joan Curtiss and Lisbeth Mikoleit. Several guest conductors have been invited to participate.

A reception will follow the concert. All are cordially invited. A free-will offering will be received, and childcare will be available for those up to the age of 8.

First Church of Christ is located at 250 Main Street in Wethersfield, Connecticut (just off I-91 at Exit 26). The church's concerts are open to the public and no tickets are required. For more information, please call the Ministry of Music and the Arts at (860) 529-1575, ext. 209.