Epiphany Music Festival to bring area churches together for combined concert
A music festival featuring 13 groups of people from a handful of area churches is expected to draw crowds of about 300 people to St. Andrew's Catholic Church Sunday.
One would think a musical performance of this caliber would require weeks of rehearsals; however, artists at the Epiphany Music Festival have not practiced once together for the event.
Kathy Binsfeld, music coordinator at St. Andrew's, said people came a mere three days before the concert to find out where to stand and for a sound check, and that's all the rehearsing they do as a group.
"Everybody is chipping in to help, and in the end it all works out," Binsfeld said.
People of all ages will be singing and playing instruments, including handbells, at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's. Choirs from Lord of Life, Trinity Lutheran, St. Andrew's, St. Francis and Lakewood will perform.
"It's fun to see different musicians from different churches in the area," Binsfeld said. "We're all working for the same reason ... to praise the Lord."
This is the fourth year St. Andrew's has housed the Epiphany Music Festival.
Epiphany, celebrated Jan. 6, commemorates the feast of the three kings, celebrating the meeting of Jesus and His baptism. Epiphany marks an end to the Christmas season.
Although much of the music is Christmas music, Binsfeld said some songs simply speak of Christ.
"This will be a night of prayer done in music," Binsfeld said.
The night will feature a father/daughter duet, an adult and children's choir, handbell choirs and a variety of other instruments. The audience will be included in singing Christmas tunes, while sitting back and listening to the choirs perform the other songs.
"Some songs will be performed individually and some as a massive choir," Binsfeld said. "It's a community concert."
Cake and beverages will be served following the event.