Making a joyful noise isn’t just for church services.
Several area houses of worship are turning their spaces into concert halls.
Amid the awe-inspiring interiors, churches can be the right places to spend an afternoon or evening of music of both religious-themed work or the more secular kind.
Since 2007, Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral on Collingwood, has been throwing open its beautiful sanctuary for a Sunday Concert Series as well as being the powerful setting for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Georg Fridrich Handel’s Messiah.
On Sept. 29, the series kicks off a new season with a performance by Chanticleer, the Grammy-winning vocal group that is stopping in Toledo in between tour dates.
“They've contacted me in the past, and it just has never worked out,” said Paul Monachino, director of liturgical music and the organist.
But all the pieces fell into place this time.
“They were looking for some spots in between other tours. So it was, it was kind of nice to be able to do it,” he said.
While the concerts are usually free, tickets for this will cost $35.
“Something like this is a little bit more of a financial challenge,” Monachino said.
According to its website, the a cappella group has 12 male members: two basses, one baritone, three tenors, and six countertenors, and is known as “an orchestra of voices,’ touring worldwide and selling millions of recordings.
While rooted in the Renaissance, the ensemble, founded in 1978, has a wide repertoire that includes classical, gospel, jazz, and pop.
Next in the lineup will be at 3 p.m. on Nov. 3, with Merwin Siu, violinist; Damon Coleman, cello; and retired UT Professor Michael Boyd, piano, perform solo and ensemble music.
After that, of course, will be the Messiah at 4 p.m. on Dec. 8 with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. The German Carol Sing at 3 p.m. Dec. 22 with the Perrysburg Chorale will include favorite Christmas Carols accompanied by strings, brass, and the just-restored E.M. Skinner organ.
The first program in 2025 will be the Svyati duo at 3 p.m. Feb. 2, with Rebecca Hepplewhite, cello; and Julian Collings, organ. The season ends with Tenebrae, the reflective service of Holy Week, at 7:30 p.m. April 16. The choir will sing traditional Latin motets, psalms, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah.
Monachino said the aesthetics make the cathedral a good fit for concerts.
“The cathedral has a special place as kind of a promoter of the arts and culture,” Monachino said. “And we look at it as an outreach to the community to provide beautiful music and a beautiful space. We try to make the concerts accessible,’ especially for those who aren’t familiar with classical music.
“People who might otherwise not have an opportunity experience classical music, this kind of offers a possibility to do that,” he said. “We get some families that come, so it's kind of nicer, though a little bit less stressful, maybe, than taking [children] to a ticketed concert,” he said.
The Chanticleer concert is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo. Tickets are $35 and are available at artstoledo.com or 419-246-8000.
Coming up
■ The Peacock Cafe, 2007 Monroe St., 8 p.m. Friday. Live at the Peacock Cafe. Vicky Simpson, Alfred G. $15 cover. Advanced tickets available. Contact the Peacock Cafe at 419-241-8000.
■ Lucille’s Jazz Lounge, 1447 N. Summit St. TolHouse. 8 p.m. Friday. The Rusty Wright Band. Tickets: $17 and $35.
8 p.m. Saturday. Nicole Heitger, $16 and $25, Visit lucillesjazzlounge.com.
■ Levis Square, corner of St. Clair Street and Madison Avenue. 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Lunch at Levis Concert Series. Anthony Beck. Free.
■ Wood County Museum, 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green. 6 p.m. Thursday, Music at the Wood County Museum. Bands GRUBS, Trip-lettes, and Corduroy Road. Free.
■ Wildwood Metropark, Manor House, 5700 Central Ave., Toledo. 6 p.m. Wednesday. Resident artists are Sara Rachel Bacani, soprano; Emily Cotten, mezzo-soprano; Brady DelVecchio, tenor; Robbie Raso, baritone; and Alessandro “Alex” Rotundo, pianist; singing arias, Broadway tunes, and more. Free. In bad weather, the concert will move inside.
■ Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in concert. Seats limited. Tickets: $35 to $95. Visit stranahantheater.com.
8 p.m. Sept. 26. The Life and Music of George Michael. Chronicles the journey of George Michael and his early music. Tickets: $29.50 to $209.50. Visit stranahantheater.com for official tickets or call 419-381-8851.
■ Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St., Toledo. 8 p.m. Friday. Always Loretta, Loretta Lynn Tribute. Tickets: $29 to $59 without fees. Visit valentinetheatre.com or etix-com. Box office: 419-242-2787.
■ Homecoming Park, 7807 Angola Rd., Holland. Noon, Saturday. 419 Music Fest. Free. Donations welcome. Proceeds benefit the Hero Program of Springfield Township Local 3544 Firefighters and Sylvania Township Local 2243 firefighters. Portion of proceeds will go to the family of Sterling “Butch” Rahe with the aid of Toledo Firefighters Union Local 92.
■ Main Library, Atrium, 325 Michigan St., Toledo. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Live at the Library: Nigel Wearne, singer-songwriter. Free but registration required. Follow the link at events.toledolibrary.org.
■ Moore Musical Arts Center: Bowling Green State University, 1001 E. Wooster St., 8 p.m. Thursday, Bowling Green Bryan Recital Hall: Hub New Music, Music at the Forefront Concert Series; 8 p.m. Monday. Guest Artist Shuai Wang, piano (free); 8 p.m. Wednesday Faculty Artist Series: Christopher Scholl, tenor, assisted by Chrstopher Schoelen, guitar; Elaine Colprit, cello; and Kevin Bylsma, piano; Kobacker Hall. 8 p.m. Saturday. The Bowling Green Philharmonia. Jazz Spotlight performance features Jazz Lab Bands 1 and 2, the BGSU jazz faculty, and special guest artist Rudy Royston, drummer. Tickets, 372-8171 or bgsu.edu/the-arts/tickets;
■ Bittersweet Farms, Pavilion, 12660 Archbold-Whitehouse Rd., Whitehouse. 11:30 a.m. Friday. Music Vine Concert Series. Birds of a Feather. Free.
■ Over Yonder Concert House, Virginia St., Old West End. 7 p.m. Saturday. Chris Haddox. Tickets: $20. Visit overyonderconcerthouse.com.
■ Town Center at Levis Commons at the Fountain, 3201 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. Levis Commons Summer Music Series. 11:30 a.m. Sept. 25. Christian Lombardo.
■ Kerrytown Concert House: 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Oblivion Project, the Nuevo Tango of Astor Piazzolla Album Recording Tour. Piazzolla took the tango and turned it into a new style. The musicians of The Oblivion Project are a blend of diverse musical backgrounds. They are Gabriel Bolkosky, violin; Derek Snyder cello; Daniel Bruce, guitar; Mau Quiros, piano; Joel Negus, bass; Anthony Taddeo, percussion. Tickets from $19 to $35.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Autumn Serenades. Tierney Sutton, vocalist, and Tamir Hendelman, piano, celebrate fall. Tickets from $25 to $50. Visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com, email kch@kerrytownconcerthouse.com, or call 734-769-2999.
■ Monroe County Community College, La-Z-Boy Center-Meyer Theater, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe. 7 p.m. Friday. Simply Queen. Queen Tribute band featuring Rick Rock, Freddie Mercury impersonator. Tickets: $27 and $37. Visit monroeccc.edu/simplyqueen or call 734-384-4272.
■ Michigan Theater: Main Auditorium, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor 7:30 p.m. Friday. Harold Lloyd's The Freshman Silent film with orchestra program with Peacherine Ragtime Society. Dressing up in 1920s togs, like flapper dresses, Gatsby-style suits, beanies, and letter sweaters are encouraged. Tickets start at $35. Visit marquee-arts.org or call 734-668-8397.
■ River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Monroe St., Monroe. 9 p.m. Saturday. Jacob Jolliff Bluegrass band. Tickets: $15. Visit riverraisincentre.org or call 734-242-7722.
Send news of music to Heather Denniss at hdenniss@theblade.com at least 10 days ahead of your event.
First Published September 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m.