ARTS MARATHON WILL CELEBRATE REOPENING OF PARK SLOPE’S HISTORIC OLD FIRST REFORMED CHURCH Bluegrass stars Michael Daves and Friends, acclaimed author Rick Moody, the String Orchestra of Brooklyn, and the Amy Winehouse Teen Jazz Ensemble are among the groups appearing at “A Celebration of Arts at Old First” Sunday, May 19, 2019 – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. MEDIA CONTACT: Alix Friedman Public Relations – […]
Join us Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19 as we participate in the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Open House and celebrate the reopening of our sanctuary with A Celebration of Arts at Old First. On Saturday, May 18, our sanctuary doors will be open from 10am to 5pm for the New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Open House. We’ll welcome those touring sacred sites […]
We look forward to another unique and entertaining vocal performance of our Stone House Singers, under the direction of Thomas W. Jones. The program goes amazingly eclectic, borrowing musical material from the Renaissance through Messiaen and Poulenc. Also featured is the work of contemporary composer Nico Muhly, whose opera Marnie is currently at the Met. Jazz and spiritual selections will be included as well. The […]
On February 13 at Old First, author Mary Gordon presents her book On Thomas Merton, in conversation with Father James Martin. Gordon, a best-selling novelist and memorist shares her deeply personal view of her discovery of the celebrated modern monk and thinker through his writings. Thomas Merton (1815-1968) was a Trappist monk, poet, essayist, activist, and author of some of the most influential spiritual writing of […]
Baroquelyn’s 2018-19 season continues! Mark your calendars: Sunday, February 3 at 3 pm at Old First Upper Hall. Our next concert, Sound the Trumpet, is on! Trumpeter Louis Ranger will join us to offer some rich, warm sounds to counteract the cold of February. He and his sister Nancy Ranger will join forces, along with Jason Smoller, to perform Telemann’s joyful concerto for trumpet and two […]
“This group is important for Arts at Old First,” says Pastor Daniel Meeter of the Accord Treble Choir. “We have hosted them for five or six years now, and they love to sing in our Upper Hall. They have a remarkable and unique sound. All women’s voices, in a small ensemble, perfectly tuned, singing challenging pieces ancient, classical, modern, and contemporary, in many languages.” In […]
On October 18, we eagerly welcome poet Christian Wiman, who will discuss his new book He Held Radical Light: The Art of Faith, the Faith of Art. The work meditates on memory, oblivion, and eternity, setting the stage for a conversation on the interplay of faith and the arts. Also included will be a stimulating Q&A between Wiman and editor Paul Elie (Farrar, Straus & […]
2018-2019 marks Baroquelyn’s first full season, starting with its premiere event on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 3 pm. This baroque-themed concert series became an immediate hit during its initial peformance in November 2017. Spearheaded by Old First musical director Aleeza Meir, the concert features top-caliber musicians from around the corner and across the globe. A successful Kickstarter campaign helped to make these concerts a […]
The Seed is the Word: Old First Arts and Yoga Week for Kids The Old First Summer Arts Week was founded in 2004 with generous grants from the Reformed Church Regional Synod and Brooklyn Classis by dancer Jenny Burrill and artist Cecilia Whittaker-Doe. Continuing support has enabled this uniquely inspired arts week to be offered (mostly) free of charge to the community at large. More recently, a […]
Again this year, Old First member Jennifer Nelson brings her beautiful voice to our bluegrass-themed Good Friday service. Although Jennifer sang in churches all her life, she was never quite keyed in to the typical Good Friday service. “I grew up in Oklahoma,” she says. “[For Good Friday services], they just covered everything in black. We would have the service, and then we would walk […]