Barbara Passeri-Warfel
Houses of worship meet many needs—spiritual, communal and educational. Increasingly, they also offer arts and cultural programs.
Though not unique to churches in downtown Harrisburg, one standout program is Arts on the Square, a series of musical and visual arts events presented by Market Square Presbyterian Church.
Launched in the 2019-20 season with a program that included a concert by the Vienna Boys Choir, Arts on the Square’s next season was suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has resumed continuously since.
“It is the congregation’s desire to share with the community the beauty and majesty of God through music and art,” said communications manager John Robinson.
Held throughout the church’s calendar year, the programs feature international, national and local musical performers and often local or regional visual artists. Artistic director Tyler Canonico, minister of music and organist at the church, and art gallery coordinator Beth Hager plan a program with the help of a team of nearly a dozen volunteers.
The kind of music featured in Arts on the Square is varied, ranging from sacred to pop, from the classics to jazz, said Canonico. In this context, the arts are more than artistic.
APOLLO5
This season includes world-famous German concert organist Felix Hell, who last played at Market Square Church in 2000, when he was 14 years old. “Carols by Candlelight” features the Sanctuary Choir and orchestra, with carols sung by the audience. APOLLO5 is a pre-eminent British vocal ensemble singing in a wide variety of styles. And for the first time, a silent film classic, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” will be shown, with dramatic accompaniment by New York City organist Jason Roberts.
“The church is one of the premier venues in the city,” Canonico said. “We use the beautiful sanctuary, with recently enhanced acoustics, for musical performances and historic Geneva Hall for visual arts exhibitions. Our choir regularly performs with orchestra or our organ, the newest in the city, built in 2019.”
Among the featured visual artists this year is Barbara Passeri-Warfel of New Cumberland. She will offer an eclectic mix of paintings, drawings and fabric wall hangings. Next up, Market Square Church members Susan Hoover and RonPoorman will present “Camera Perspectives,” a photographic joint exhibition.
“We can hang about 40 to 50 works in Geneva Hall,” Hager said.
In 2023, Friends of Arts on the Square was established to allow church members and the public to support its programming through a membership organization.
“These donations, as well as support from foundations and others, allow us to offer free or low-cost programs to everyone in our community,” said Robinson.
Market Square Presbyterian Church is located at 20 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.marketsquarechurch.org/concerts.
Square Season
The 2024-25 Arts on the Square season begins this month and runs through the spring.
Musical Performances
Sunday, Sept. 29
Felix Hell, organ
Playing the J. Nedra Schilling Organ/Orgues Létourneau Opus 136
Sunday, Oct. 27
Bill Carter and the Presbybop Quintet
Musicians play “sacred jazz”
Sunday, Dec. 22
Carols by Candlelight
Holiday favorites with choir and orchestra
Sunday, Feb. 16
APOLLO5
British vocal ensemble showcases jazz, pop, classical and early sacred music
Sunday, April 6
Junghoon Park, piano
Works of Bach, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin
Friday, May 16
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
New York City organist Jason Roberts accompanies the 1923 silent film classic
Art Gallery
The gallery is open on the dates below and one-half hour after each musical performance.
Barbara Passeri-Warfel
Opening reception: Sept. 29
12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Joint photography exhibition by Susan Hoover and Ron Poorman
Opening reception: Jan. 19
12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Our Core Values in Art”
Opening reception: March 16
12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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