Matthew Robinson.
A church in downtown Harrisburg is hosting a special memorial concert next month in honor of a late member of its community.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral will hold a “Remembering Matthew Robinson” concert on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. to celebrate the life of Matthew Robinson, who passed away suddenly in September at age 36.
Robinson sang as a cantor at the cathedral and served as the church’s “Music Under the Dome” concert series executive director in 2024, when he restarted the series.
Loren Geeting, a friend of Robinson’s intent on keeping the series going after his passing, has picked up the post as the new executive director. He organized the remembrance concert as part of the series this year to allow people to come together to celebrate “Matt’s zest for life, his talent, his passion and love of people.”
Matthew Robinson (far right) with fellow performers.
Geeting said Robinson grew up around Boiling Springs, loved music from an early age, and was passionate about making beautiful music. According to Geeting, his friend booked recitals and concerts at a pace that anyone would be hard pressed to keep up with.
“No one was more connected to the central PA music scene than he was,” Geeting said. “He knew everyone and would often introduce artists and promote them without pay or expectation.”
The remembrance event will feature professional musical guests who attended Messiah University with Robinson (where he studied vocal performance) or who met him while performing local gigs. Geeting, an opera singer and classical tenor, will also perform.
“Those who knew him will hear his voice blending with ours,” Geeting said. “I’m sure he’ll be there with us singing along, because that was the kind of guy he was.”
Performers will sing selections from “Les Miserables” and “The Secret Garden,” which were Robinson’s favorite two musicals. They will also sing classical pieces that Robinson used to perform.
For guests attending the concert who didn’t know Robinson, Geeting said they can look forward to hearing “wonderful music performed with heart and skill.”
Tickets for the concert run $25. All funds raised will go toward producing future concerts and paying musicians. Geeting said the “Music Under the Dome” concert series currently relies on grants and the “generosity of concert goers.”
For more information on the concert, visit the Cathedral’s website.
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