2008-2009 • 15th Season 

Welcome to the Fifteenth Anniversary of Friends of Cathedral Music! As we celebrate this important year we again welcome superb artists to perform in the glorious space of the Cathedral. 


Since its inception FCM has brought major artists to our community, through the support of committed patrons from throughout New Mexico and beyond. In recent years we have expanded our choral and organ concerts to include the landmark Cathedral Commissions program. Through this program we commission new choral works to be written for the Cathedral Choir each year in tandem with a composer residency around the first performance. We are honored that our composer in this anniversary year will be the award winning New York based composer Tarik O’Regan. 


A special feature this year will be the performances of two settings of the Passion of our Lord according to St. John, Patron Saint of the Cathedral. During Palm Sunday we shall offer Alessandro Scarlatti’s exquisite setting of the St. John Passion and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. 


In May, as part of our Premieres! concert we will present the New Mexico premiere of Passio by the celebrated Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. This extraordinary setting for choir, soloists and chamber orchestra has attracted a huge following around the world for its unique musical setting of the text. Live performances are extremely rare and we encourage you to attend both of these special performances. 


You will find details of all our concerts in Friends of Cathedral Music brochure. We encourage you to join us on this glorious journey, filled with musical delights as we celebrate this anniversary year. We look forward to welcoming you! Iain Quinn Director of Cathedral Music and Organist .


Concerts at the Cathedral would not be possible were it not for the generosity of members of the congregation and greater Albuquerque community who contribute time and money to Friends of Cathedral Music (FCM). FCM are individuals, families and organizations who support the core mission of furthering fellowship among all people through the grace of God and the beauty of first-rate music. Although most of its programs center on ecclesiastical themes, FCM also sponsors many other programs, including those by young musicians from the community.
 

One of the most visible forms of evangelism and welcome in which we engage is the Cathedral Concerts Series. Annually this series of music presentations with the Cathedral Choirs, organists, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and other guest musicians draws nearly four thousand people to the Cathedral for cultural events. At each concert many listeners are stepping into the Cathedral for the first time, and each year we attract new members whose first contact with the Cathedral was at a Cathedral Concert. Whether it be at our Sunday services, Choral Evensong, Cathedral Concerts, or the Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts, St. John’s is known throughout Albuquerque for excellence of presentation and as a major contributor to the cultural life of New Mexico.
 

For a brochure listing all events sponsored by the Friends of Cathedral Music, contact the Cathedral Music Office. To view events approaching, click on Events at the bottom of this page. The full Friends of Cathedral Music brochure is also available as an pdf download.

Although all events have a suggested donation to cover costs, everyone is welcome. For Great Organists and Choral Concerts, the suggested donation is $20 ($10 for Seniors and $5 for Students). For the Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts the suggested donation is $5 for the concert and $5 for the lunch.

In 2007 new works were commissioned from two composers Judith Bingham and David Arcus. The 2008 commission is to Anthony Piccolo and the 2009 commission to Tarik O'Regan.

Cathedral Choir at Washington National Cathedral