Music and More: Free Thursday noontime concerts

The fifteenth season of Music & More begins on Thursday, June 26, and continues each Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. through Aug. 7. There is no charge for these noonday concerts which are held in the air-conditioned sanctuary of historic First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Avenue. Each weekly concert features a variety of singers, instrumentalists and musical groups from southeastern Wisconsin and the Chicago area.

The grand finale concert will be held on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. There is a $10 admission charge for the evening concert. This concert will feature three outstanding individuals/groups with diverse musical styles. Milwaukee area actress and classically trained vocalist, Becky Spice, will open the show. She has performed with the Skylight Opera Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Racine Symphony Orchestra. Laura Deming is a gifted cellist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Laura will perform with local favorite, Gregory Berg. Local singers and songwriters, Mark Paffrath, Zachary Scot Johnson and Jeff Ward will perform during the second half of the show. They have performed together as an acoustic trio at the Racine Theater Guild.

A freewill offering is collected at each of the noon concerts and is divided at the end of the season between three charitable organizations. This year’s recipients are The Cops N Kids Reading Program, San Juan Diego Middle School and the Racine Arts Council’s prison art program.

Music & More has become a proven asset for the Racine community. Over the years, it has provided a venue for new and established musicians to perform and has brought enjoyment to hundreds of concert-goers. The concerts bring an average of 175 people to downtown every week to enjoy the music and area attractions. The evening concert attendance averages 275-300 people. Most importantly, the freewill offerings have returned hundreds of dollars to the local community each year and have benefited many non-profit agencies and social service programs. Church officials estimate more than $25,000 has been returned to the community in this way.

First Presbyterian Church is the oldest church in Racine. The church is completing a $600,000 restoration and renovation of its historic sanctuary which dates to the mid-1800's. A $2 million addition to the building was finished 10 years ago and made the facility fully handicap-accessible. The congregation is committed to downtown Racine and will continue to use music and mission as a way to vitalize the community.

For more information, please call the church office at 632-1686 or contact Georgia Hall, Co-Chair of Music & More at 633-7251.