Tribute to Ed Ward
Apr
14
5:00 PM17:00

Tribute to Ed Ward

Sunday, April 14 we will host a Tribute to Ed Ward. This performance will be truly one of a kind and likely never repeated, bringing Ed’s many talented friends, colleagues, and even students together to honor Ed’s memory in the best way we know - by celebrating his gift and love of music.

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Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity
Dec
17
4:00 PM16:00

Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity

The ChurchJazz Band presents Bending Towards the Light, a jazz nativity composed by Anne Phillips during Advent in the Chicago area. This features the band, a choir, soloists, and dancers in a marvelous presentation of the story of the birth of Christ. Joseph, Mary, the angels, and the shepherds sing traditional Christmas carols and new music to tell the story. A highlight is the appearance of the trumpet king, the tap dancing king, and the Latin percussion king.

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Bob Milne Ragtime Concert
Oct
29
4:00 PM16:00

Bob Milne Ragtime Concert

ob Milne is a self-taught pianist. He says that when he was younger he thought everyone knew how to play the piano. It was so simple and natural for him to be able to play what he heard.

His concert performing career began in 1991 and has taken him on tours all over the U.S. and beyond: Bob was named a Musical Ambassador by the U.S. State Department, touring widely in Japan and Switzerland.

Milne was declared a National Treasure in 2004 by the Library of Congress after being interviewed for the national record. His documented ability to “hear,” in his head, four different symphonies playing at once continues to be studied by neurological scientists.

In May of 2022, Bob was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. This lifetime achievement award came as a surprise to Bob who says, “I’m only trying to do the best I can for as long as I can.”

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Amber Trio
Apr
16
4:00 PM16:00

Amber Trio

A Trio of double reeds coming together in perfect harmony.

Since 2010, Amber trio’s lush tones and close harmonies have been delighting audiences in the Chicago area. The combination of oboes, oboe d’amore, and english horns result in a sweet and unique blend, and the occasional use of piano or keyboard adds to the variety of music that can be programmed. Clarinet, flute, and percussion sounds may add a more modern feel to some of the arrangements. Amber performs music from all style periods – from Baroque to pop! Co-founders Tricia Wlazlo, Christine Janzow Phillips, and Nancy Hagen are excited about sharing their mystical experience.

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Jazz Passion
Mar
19
4:00 PM16:00

Jazz Passion

Join us for The Jazz Passion on Sunday, March 19th at 4pm in the St. Cletus Parish Center.

Featuring 12 choir voices and 11 jazz musicians. Libretto by Pastor David Abrahamson of Saint Luke Church Chicago. Music composed by Andy Tecson, Bobby Lewis and Bobby Schiff. Dan MacDonald will sing the role of Jesus. Justin Sisul will be the conductor. Admission is free. This work is one hour in length.

The Story of Christ's Passion through Jazz

Originally premiering in March of 2010, Victorious, Eternal, Light: A JAZZ PASSION is the result of a collaborative process between Pastor David Abrahamson and composers Andy Tecson, Bobby Lewis, and Bobby Schiff in an effort to create, in modern language and the jazz idiom, a musical account of Jesus’ ultimate act for our salvation.

This work has its origins in the long history of musical portrayals of the Passion Story, and it boldly proclaims Christ’s mercy and grace.

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Cabaret: Dueling Pianos
Feb
3
8:00 PM20:00

Cabaret: Dueling Pianos

Piano Bar Night in the St. Cletus Parish Center. Join us for a fundraiser for the Ed Ward Fine Arts Series at St. Cletus. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door. Ticket includes entertainment, snacks, and beer/wine. Doors open at 7:30 pm, Entertainment begins at 8pm.

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Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity
Dec
11
4:00 PM16:00

Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity

We are excited to host Bending Towards the Light, a Jazz Nativity. This concert will feature jazz arrangements of traditional Christmas carols along with original compositions tell the story of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, the Angels, the Shepherds, and the three Wise Men in a staged production. Filled with a sense of grace and humor, the cast will include a tap dancing king, a Latin percussion king, and a trumpet king, as well as vocal soloists, a vocal jazz quartet, and an eight-piece jazz band.

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Jazz Psalms
Sep
18
4:00 PM16:00

Jazz Psalms

Please join us for the first concert of the 2022-23 Ed Ward Fine Arts Series on Sunday, September 18 at 4pm in the St. Cletus Parish Center.

Howard Levy, two time Grammy award winner, will be one of the featured musicians with the ChurchJazz Band at this Jazz Psalms concert. Howard was the pianist for the Jazz Psalms premier in 1982 and is on the album.

Other featured artists include: Douglas Anderson, baritone, Victor Garcia and Kirk Garrison, trumpets, Stewart Miller, bass, Ken Jandes and Andy Tecson, saxophones, Bob Rummage, drums, Bobby Schiff, piano, Tim Coffman, trombone, and singers Daniel Riley, Kecia Waldschmidt, Gayle Bisesi, Dan MacDonald, John and Liz Rudy, Dan Krout, and RoseMary Jandes, and Justin Sisul, conductor.

Admission is free. Donations will benefit the glenhagen farm retreat. Learn more at glenhagenfarm.org

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A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim
Apr
24
4:00 PM16:00

A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim

On Sunday, April 24th at 4:00 pm you can experience "A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim." Join some of the area's finest vocalists and instrumentalists as we share an afternoon of songs by arguably one of the greatest composers and lyricists in recent history. You are sure to find songs that are familiar - and you may learn some lesser-known Sondheim pieces.

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Sing
Mar
20
4:00 PM16:00

Sing

On Sunday, March 20th at 4:00 pm, we will present "Sing!" Join us for an afternoon of songs you love to sing along with! From folk to pop, rock to jazz and more - this concert will be led by faces familiar to the Fine Arts Series and will encourage not just enjoying the music, but singing along from the audience too!

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Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity
Dec
12
4:00 PM16:00

Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity

We are excited to welcome back to St. Cletus, Bending Towards the Light, a Jazz Nativity. This concert will feature jazz arrangements of traditional Christmas carols along with original compositions tell the story of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, the Angels, the Shepherds, and the three Wise Men in a staged production. Filled with a sense of grace and humor, the cast will include a tap dancing king, a Latin percussion king and a trumpet king, as well as vocal soloists, a vocal jazz quartet, and an eight piece jazz band.

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Victorious, Eternal Light: A Jazz Passion
Mar
22
4:00 PM16:00

Victorious, Eternal Light: A Jazz Passion

Join us for Victorious, Eternal Light: A Jazz Passion on Sunday, March 22nd at 4pm in the St. Cletus Parish Center.

Featuring 12 choir voices and 11 jazz musicians. Libretto by Pastor David Abrahamson of Saint Luke Church Chicago. Music composed by Andy Tecson, Bobby Lewis and Bobby Schiff. Dan MacDonald will sing the role of Jesus. Justin Sisul will be the conductor. Admission is free. This work is one hour in length. Author Rev. Peter W. Marty wrote about this work: "The Jazz Passion performance was truly awesome. As I listened (and watched – and there was a lot to watch), I kept thinking of the many beautiful layers and textures in the piece."

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Cabaret
Feb
7
7:30 PM19:30

Cabaret

Piano Bar Night in Morrissey Hall. Join us for a fundraiser for the Ed Ward Fine Arts Series at St. Cletus. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 pm, Entertainment begins at 8pm.

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Cabaret
Feb
8
7:30 PM19:30

Cabaret

Cabaret! Piano Bar Night in the new St. Cletus parish center to benefit the Fine Arts Series. Doors open at 7:30, Entertainment begins at 8pm. $40 per person with RSVP, $45 at the door. Your admission includes beer, wine, snacks and great entertainment!

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Of Music and Memories
Oct
21
4:00 PM16:00

Of Music and Memories

Don't miss this Fine Arts Series Retrospective as we say farewell to Justin Sisul who will be stepping down from his position of Artistic Director of the Ed Ward Fine Arts Series and becoming the Artistic Director "Emeritus". Following the concert there will be a reception in the St. Cletus Parish Center.

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Grease Sing-a-Long
Apr
20
7:30 PM19:30

Grease Sing-a-Long

We apologize that we couldn't reschedule our Cabaret Musicians after getting snowed out in February. We hope you'll join us for a Grease Sing-a-Long in the St. Cletus Parish Center at 7:30 on Friday, April 20th as we try something new and fun to support the Fine Arts Series.

This is event is $25 at the door. If you'd like to pay by credit please click here.

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