An Evening of Vivaldi and Mozart Awaits in Manchester

“We hope you leave feeling connected - to the music, to this space, and to each other” - Gracie Kennedy”

A special evening candlelight concert dedicated to the works of Vivaldi and Mozart is coming to the First Parish Congregational Church in Manchester this coming Saturday, June 27.

The performance, hosted in partnership with Lumos Experience, will transform the downtown church into an immersive musical setting, illuminated by hundreds of LED candles as attendees experience classical works of Antonio Vivaldi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“We believe in the power of connection through music,” said Gracie Kennedy, the Lumos Venue partnerships manager.

Founded in 2023, Lumos Experience began in the U.K. and has rapidly expanded to New England since last October, according to Kennedy.  This event production company hosts candlelight musical concerts in venues such as churches, theatres, and vineyards.

Kennedy said that churches are a beneficial location for Vivaldi & Mozart Candlelight concerts.  She described churches as underutilized spaces that connect people.

“While we are not a religiously affiliated company, we love fostering connections within the community,” Kennedy said.

On the day of the concert, hundreds of warm, glowing LED candles will be lit throughout the space, and lead guests to the performance space.  Kennedy said that every space of the church will be enveloped with candles, including the altar, which she recommends guests see.

Kennedy describes the ambiance as warm, inviting, and glowing.

“When the sun goes down, and the lights really pop, it feels like nothing else exists beyond the walls of the church,” Kennedy said.

String musicians—violinist Julia Cash, cellist Michel Shein, and violinist Paola Caballero—will treat audiences to classical works of Vivaldi and Mozart.

Caballero said she especially enjoys candlelight performances and hopes the performance will connect with audiences who rarely attend chamber music concerts, adding that Vivaldi and Mozart are still big influencers today, and engage audiences through emotions.

“Every listener has a different perspective, but one has to acknowledge and admire the genius behind these compositions, as they have and continue to engage audiences over the centuries,” she said.

Music is a central part of the First Parish Church, according to Pastor Katherine Schofield, who said she is excited for the church to have this event.

“The works of Vivadli and Mozart have long been performed in both secular and sacred settings, so this concert is a great fit for First Parish Church,” said Schofield.

Schofield said she believes that music is a powerful way to bring people together.

“We enjoy music during our Sunday morning worship services, but we also feel it’s important to provide the wider community with opportunities to appreciate music of all kinds,” she said.

The Vivaldi & Mozart Candlelight concert will be an evening for attendees to relax and enjoy classical music. Kennedy said she encourages attendees to arrive early to enjoy the

“otherworldly ambiance.”

“We hope you leave feeling connected—to the music, to this space, and to each other,” Kennedy said.

This is the latest example of the First Parish Church’s strong turns in musical programming.  Three years ago, under the musical leadership of Dr. Herman Weiss, the church began its ambitious (and successful) annual tradition of the 19^th Century-style classical "sing-along" performances that invite the audience to actively perform alongside professional musicians.  These include a holiday performance of George Frideric Handel's Messiah—also an evening performance in the church that’s become a holiday highlight—that turns passive concertgoers into a joyous, unrehearsed mass choir.

Then, earlier this week on Monday, the Parish Church hosted the “Impact in Concert,” featuring the IMPACT Youth Choir from Burke Presbyterian Church in Burke, VA.  IMPACT, which stands for ‘Inspiring Music and Praise, Acclaiming Christ Together,’ is a youth choir church ministry group made up of grades 7-12, ages 12 to 18.  This concert marked the group’s first time in Manchester-by-the-Sea and presented a variety of traditional and Gospel choral music with live piano accompaniment.

Katherine Schofield said that the First Parish Church has been working to host more public concerts.

“We see it as a way to share wonderful music with the community while supporting and encouraging these young singers,” she said.

The First Parish Church’s Vivaldi & Mozart Candlelight on Saturday, June 27.  Open to audiences aged 8 and older, with selected show times at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets $25 and $30, at lumos-experiences.com.