Lenten Music & Meditation Services – Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church

Lenten Music & Meditation Services – Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church

March 12, March 19, March 26 at noon

The Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church welcomes everyone to its annual Lenten Music & Meditation Services on three Wednesdays in March. Each service begins at noon and features excellent music with interactive readings and prayers. Lunch is provided afterward in Westminster Hall.

The series begins on March 12 with the BRPC’s own Finley Singers with Chris Fortin on piano. Mr. Fortin has served as director of BRPC Music Ministries for ten years.

The March 19 service will feature the beautiful sounds of Merynda Adams on harp and Darren O’Neill on guitar.

Described by the Newark Star Ledger as “playing the harp with color and great facility”, Ms. Adams has performed throughout the US and in Europe as a soloist and chamber musician, including the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York Grand Opera, and London’s New Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr. O’Neill served as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Guitar Studies at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University from 2012 to 2020. As a member of Trio Brioso (flute, viola, and guitar), Mr. O’Neill gave his Carnegie Hall debut in 1997 as the result of winning the Artists International New York Debut Competition that year. As a member of the Nova Segno Duo (with Dennis Cinelli), he performed and recorded on antique instruments from the historic collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was featured in the 2011 exhibition, Guitar Heroes! Mr. O’Neill has recorded four solo CDs.

The series concludes with the stunning sounds of the Madison String Quartet on March 26. Featuring Evelyn Estava, violin, Rebecca Harris-Lee, violin, Michael Avagliano, viola, and Gerall Hieser, violoncello, the quartet has performed together for 25 years and is renowned for their dynamic performances and innovative repertoire choices. They have recorded two albums and have performed at Carnegie Hall, as well as overseas in Austria and Germany.

A free will offering will be taken to offset costs and support BRPC’s special music events throughout the year. For more info, visit www.brpc.org.