It is our pleasure to welcome the community to First Lutheran Venice to enjoy Masters in the Chapel. This 4-concert series runs from December - March, and presents world-class music performed in the beauty and acoustic excellence of our chapel. Every concert is offered free of charge to the community, thanks to the generous donations of our supporters.
Would you like to pitch in to help us make this gift of music? Everyone who works to make the concerts happen is a volunteer, so 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes to the musicians.
Click here to donate: Masters in the Chapel Donations
Or, if you'd prefer to give by check, make it payable to First Lutheran Church Venice, write Masters in the Chapel on the memo line and mail it to the church.
Enjoy the concerts!
With best regards,
Barbara Schwan, Program Director-Masters in the Chapel
Masters in the Chapel History
In 1944, our founding members built First Lutheran with their own hands. They were inspired to create a place of lasting beauty that would fill the souls of all who enter with peace and comfort. When a fire destroyed the sanctuary on September 11, 1998, the congregation rallied to rebuild. The renovation was completed with the installation of a state-of-the-art pipe organ designed and voiced by Manuel Rosales - the same man chosen by Disney Hall. It is an absolutely magnificent instrument and our gift to future generations. As such, the potential for a venue for world-class concerts for the west side community was recognized by Barbara Schwan. Under her direction and following her dream, the Masters in the Chapel Concert Series was born. Since 2001 some of the best musicians in Los Angeles have performed concerts of glorious music in the serenity and acoustic splendor of our sanctuary.
An overview of previous Masters in the Chapel seasons:
2018
• A String Trio from the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Stacy Wetzel, Violin; Mick Wetzel, viola; David Garrett, cello
Friday, January 12, 2018 7:00pm
• A Brass Sextet from Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra featuring the Modern Brass - David Washburn, Trumpet; Marissa Benedict, Trumpet; Dan Rosenboom, Trumpet; Dylan Hart, Horn; Steve Suminski, Trombone; Doug Tornquist, Tuba
Friday, February 16, 2018 7:00pm
• Foxtrails - Blake McLeod, vocals/guitar; Michael Brenner, guitar; Dane Sandborg, bass; Micah Sohl, drums; Cory Yamashiro, keyboards
Saturday, March 17, 2018 8:00pm
•HEAR NOW Music Festival
April 28 - 29, 2018
2017
• Judith Farmer and Panic Duo - Judith Farmer, Bassoon; Nic Gerpe, Piano; Pasha Tseitlin, Violin
Sunday, January 29, 2017 4:00pm
• Danielle Belen & Friends - Danielle Belen, violin; Jennie Jung, piano; Kevin Miura, violin; Abigail Szilagyi, violin
Saturday, February 25, 2017 7:00pm
• East Meets West: Weicheng Zhao, organ; Fang Gao, violin
Saturday, March 25, 2017 7:00pm
•HEAR NOW Music Festival
April 29 - 30, 2017
• 'Tis the Season: Jaebon Hwang, Organist
Friday, December 8, 2017 at 7:00pm
2016
• The Duo of Jochen Brusch, Violin and Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen, Organ
Saturday, April 9, 2016 7:00pm
•HEAR NOW Music Festival
April 23 - 24, 2016
• Mansfield Chamber Singers
Saturday, April 30, 2016 7:00pm
2015
• Mansfield Chamber Singers
Saturday, May 31, 2015
• HEAR NOW Music Festival
May 2 - 3, 2015
2013/2014
• The Colburn Children's Choir, Young Men's Chorus and Chamber Singers
Sunday, December 8, 2013 4:00pm
• Violinist Danielle Belen
Sunday, January 19, 2014 4:00pm
• The Duo of Jochen Brusch, Violin and Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen, Organ
Saturday, March 1, 2014 7:30pm
• The Jolivet Trio with Guillaume Sutre, violin/viola; Susan Greenberg, Flute, Judith Farmer, bassoon, Kyunghee Kim, harp
Sunday, April 13, 2014 4:00pm
•Hear Now Music Festival
May 3-4, 2014
2012/2013
• 'Tis the Season to be Joyful: Chancel Choir of St. Paul Lutheran Church
Sunday, December 9, 2012 4:00pm
• Christoph Bull on the King of Instruments (organ)
Saturday, February 2, 2013 7:30pm
• The Troy Trio: Pauline Yang, Piano; Jennifer Johnson, Oboe; Judith Farmer, Bassoon
Friday, March 1, 2013 7:30pm
• Hear Now Music Festival
April 13-14, 2013
2011/2012
• Mansfield Chamber Singers
Saturday, November 3, 2011 7:00pm
• David Brock, organist
Saturday, December 3, 2011 7:30pm
• Violinist Danielle Belen, cellist Abraham Feder, pianist Sarkis Baltaian
Saturday, February 25, 2012 7:30pm
• Los Angeles Philharmonic brass quintet: James Wilt, trumpet; Christopher Still, trumpet; Eric Overholt, horn; James Miller, trombone; and Norman Pearson, tuba.
Friday, April 27, 2012, 7:30pm
• Hear Now Music Festival
May 25-26, 2012
2010/2011
• 'Tis the Season to be Joyful: Chancel Choir of St. Paul Lutheran Church
Saturday December 18, 2010 7:00pm.
• D’Amore Duo - Guitarist William Feasley and oboist Yeon-jee Sohn
Friday, January 21, 2011 7:00pm
• Christopher Bull, organist
Saturday February 26, 2011 7:00pm
• The Masters at Play: Los Angeles Philharmonic Musicians Jonathan Karoly, cello and Catherine Ransom Karoly, flute
Sunday April 10, 2011 4:00pm
• Hear Now Music Festival
May 14, 2011
2009/2010
• Instruments of the Angels: A Trio from the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Friday, December 4, 2009 7:00pm
• House of Games, a Contemporary Jazz Quartet
Saturday, January 30, 2010 7:00pm
• Lenti on the Pipe Organ,
Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:00pm
• Denali Quartet and Hugh Levick,
Friday, April 30, 2010 7:00pm
2008/2009
• Colburn Children’s Choir
Saturday, December 6, 2008 7:00pm
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Flute Quartet - Principal flute, David Shostac
Saturday, February 14, 2009 7:00pm
• Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Keyboardist Joanne Pearce Martin and Concertmaster Martin Chalifour
Thursday, March 26, 2009 7:00pm
• Los Angeles Master Chorale singers
Saturday, May 16, 2009 7:00pm
2005/2006
• 'Tis the Season to be Joyful: The Chancel Choir of St. Paul Lutheran Church
Sunday, December 11, 2005 4:00pm
• One Piano, Six Hands: Pianists Kathy Sawada, Steve Cook and Derrison Duarte
Sunday, February 26, 2006 4:00pm
• Dennis Gano, organist
Sunday, March 26, 4:00pm
• Amadeus! Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist Suli Xue, cellist Pinfei Tang and pianist QueiLih Chen
Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:00pm
2004/2005
• Christoph Bull, organist
Sunday, November 7, 2004 4:00pm
• Colburn Children's Choir
Sunday, December 12, 2004 4:00pm
• Pacific Harmony String Quartet
Saturday, February 5, 2005 7:00pm
• Scott Hiltzik and House of Games
Sunday, April 10, 2005 4:00pm
2002/2003
• Colburn Children's Choir
Sunday December 8, 2002 4:00pm
• Pacific Harmony String Quartet
Sunday, February 9, 2003 4:00pm
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Sunday March 30, 2003 4:00pm
• Los Angeles Master Chorale
Sunday, May 4, 2003 4:00pm
2001/2002
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Flute Quartet
Sunday, September 16, 2001 4:00pm
• Kathy Sawada - Pianist
Sunday, November 4, 2001 4:00pm
• Colburn Children's Choir - Mark Williams, Choir Director
Sunday, December 16, 2001 4:00pm
• Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra - Gregory Maldonado, Founder and Music Director
Sunday, February 17, 2002 4:00pm
• Concordia University Christus Chorus, from St. Paul, Minnesota - Dr. David L. Mennicke, conductor
Tuesday, March 26, 2002 7:30pm
• Los Angeles Master Chorale - Grant Gershon, Music Director
Sunday, May 12, 2002 4:00pm
Link to previous concert seasons: Masters in the Chapel seasons