Benefit concert Sunday for church that burned down
By Chris King
Of the St. Louis American
“When you hear of something like the Christmas Eve fire at Resurrection Lutheran Church,” David Robertson told the American, “the musician in you says, ‘What can I do?’”
The answer, in this case, was to program a benefit concert at Powell Symphony Hall (this Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m.) for a church that had burned down.
David Robertson has more than a musician in him. He once studied French horn and composition at London’s Royal Academy of Music, but St. Louis knows him as the highly inspired conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
He also is a maestro with the common touch.
“Anyone with a healthy dose of spirituality in them knows that you don’t need to go to a church to be spiritual. It’s in how you live your life,” Robertson said.
“It’s the same with a musician. You’re not a musician because you’re in a concert hall. It’s a part of you.”
Robertson was speaking about outreach performances in general – certainly no top-tier U.S. conductor does more than Robertson to meet the people where they are, though the Resurrection Lutheran benefit will be held in the sumptuous confines of the symphony’s home on North Grand Boulevard.
The repertoire and performance groupings will mix it up, however. Resurrection Lutheran contributes choristers to the symphony’s beloved IN UNISON Choir, directed by Robert Ray, and the program this Sunday will feature gospels and spirituals, as expected with an IN UNISON event. Members of the orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus also will be joined by members of the St. Louis Youth Chamber Ensemble and Brian and Amanda Owens (UMSL vocal music students and IN UNISON Scholarship winners).
“Outreach performances make people’s lives richer,” Robertson said, “whether it’s in a place designated for music or in another place known for the kind of concentration and intensity of making music.” Like a church.
The members of Resurrection Lutheran are making do without a church of their own, for now, worshipping at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church just down the road while their sanctuary is being rebuilt on its original site at 4112 Fair (at West Florissant) in North City.
Doris Williams is a Resurrection Lutheran member who coordinates its IN UNISON activities and previously sang in the chorus for five years. She said of the fire, “When this happened, it was just devastating, and I knew we would need some support, so I started thinking of a fundraiser of this nature.”
Resurrection Lutheran, she said, was one of the 10 charter members of IN UNISON. She felt the connection between the church and the symphony was close enough to ask for a major favor – “a concert of this nature is a major undertaking,” she said – and she was correct.
“Resurrection Lutheran is an IN UNISON church, so naturally when we heard of the hardship, it was part of the family that had taken a hit,” maestro Robertson said.
And now a part of the family is getting some love, some music – and, if concert-goers are generous, some money.
“This is our first big fundraiser,” Williams said. “I’m really proud that the symphony is reaching out to the community.”
“It is fortunate that no one was killed or hurt in the Resurrection fire,” said the Rev. Dr. John Reigstad, the pastor.
“We are recovering quickly and beautifully and look forward to a bright new church for St. Louis. Our congregation is strongly committed to St. Louis City. We want to return to the city and contribute to its economic and cultural renewal.”
The Benefit Concert for the Resurrection Lutheran Church will be held this Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m. at Powell Symphony Hall. A free-will offering will be taken up at the concert with all proceeds going to Resurrection Lutheran Church.
