Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst will be featuring members of the chamber ensemble Picosa, on Sunday, February 22nd at 3:00 p.m. in its Sanctuary as part of the church’s Music@Bethel Concert Series. Picosa is a chamber music ensemble for flute, violin, cello and piano. No passport is required as you take a musical journey back in time to France in a concert aptly called “Paris Through the Centuries,” showcasing works composed in Paris or by Parisians, including compositions by Debussy, Fauré, Jolivet , Mozart and Telemann.
Anchoring the ensemble is Bethel’s own Jeffrey Panko, world-class, award-winning pianist, who is the church’s Minister of Music and has been the Artistic Director of the Music@Bethel Concert Series for the entirety of its16 outstanding seasons. “It is a great joy to perform such beautiful music with my Picosa colleagues for Music@Bethel. Chamber music by its nature is a personal and intimate artistic expression, and to have the opportunity to bring this wonderful art form to our Music@Bethel audience with my close friends is truly fulfilling,” said Panko. Picosa’s flutist and Artistic Director Jennie Brown is a faculty member in the Music Departments of both Wheaton College and Elmhurst College, and is the director of the Elmhurst College Chamber Music Academy. “As a long-time resident of Elmhurst, I’m thrilled to present this program of French repertoire to our community for the Music@Bethel Concert Series. All of Picosa’s concerts benefit Hesed House, an incredible organization that helps bring families out of homelessness. Audience members are welcome to bring a donation—monetary or otherwise—to our concerts,” said Brown. Performers also include violinist Elizabeth Brausa Braithwaite and cellist Christopher Ferrer. The Picosa ensemble is in its inaugural season. As local area performing artists and teachers, they are personally committed to Chicago and its musical community. In addition to partnering with community organizations such as Hesed House, Picosa is committed to bringing music to those communities typically under-served by the arts through donated tickets and outreach concerts. This spring, Chicago-based Latin band Guitarra Azul will be returning by popular demand to the Music@Bethel Concert Series on Saturday, April 11th, 2015, at 7 p.m. “Paris Through the Centuries” concert is on Sunday, February 22nd at 3:00 p.m. at Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 East St. Charles Road in Elmhurst. Tickets are available online through www.musicatbethel.com or by calling 630-279-4040. Ticket prices are adults $20, seniors $18 and students $5. A family pass is available at $45 for 2 adults and up to 5 children. Parking is free and the church is handicapped-accessible.