Market Square, Italian Lake, HSO Summer—Harrisburg doesn’t lack for high-quality music series, some seasonal, some year-round.
Adding to the riches: This month, Maestro T. Herbert Dimmock will launch the “Music by the River” series at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, where he serves as organist and choir director.
“We anticipate a good variety of artists, some local, some out of town,” said Dimmock, who is eager to bring his ideas and talents to music-lovers in the Harrisburg area, his home for the past year.
In 1988, Dimmock founded the Bach Choir of Baltimore, which performs the first Sunday of the month in Christ Lutheran Church in the Inner Harbor. In fact, before moving to this area, he started and directed many musical groups in Baltimore, where he also served as organist/choir director at various churches.
The Music by the River series—its named inspired by St. Stephen’s picturesque location across the street from the Susquehanna—has been a part of Dimmock’s vision for some time.
“It’s a time-honored tradition that I wanted to bring to Harrisburg,” he said. “This is a way for people to experience performances that they might not otherwise get the chance to.”
The cathedral’s high ceilings and colorful, stained glass windows offer a setting designed to set the mood for the music and enhance the audience’s listening pleasure.
“This church is rich with both beauty and history,” Dimmock said.
The inaugural concert will take place on March 16, as the Langley Air Force Woodwind Ensemble plays selections from its vast repertoire, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary.
Then, on April 5, the Bach Choir of Baltimore, under the baton of Maestro Dimmock, will present Johann Sebastian Bach’s dramatic “St. John Passion.” The concert, which requires tickets, will feature a co-mingling of voices true to the original 18th-century arrangement, with professional orchestral accompaniment and Baroque soloists.
While Harrisburg has a long tradition of music culture, Dimmock believes this series can offer the city something new.
“We are looking for things that consistently have a spiritual element,” he said. “This series is unique in the way that it brings that to our city.”
Moreover, Music by the River offers a combination of substance, beauty and affordability.
“Good music appeals to us beyond words,” Dimmock said. “Ninety percent of these concerts will be free. When you bring high-caliber talent like this at such a low price, why would you not want to attend?”
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral is located at 221 N. Front St., Harrisburg. www.ststep.org.
“Music by the River” Series Upcoming Concerts
Langley Air Force Woodwind Ensemble March 16, 4 p.m.
“St. John Passion,” Bach Choir of Baltimore April 5, 7 p.m.
ARTSFEST Organ Marathon, Herbert Dimmock, organist May 24-26, noon-6 p.m.
