St. Margaret's Friends of Music (formerly known as Desert Friends of Music):
Each year, St. Margaret's Friends of Music sponsors a series of concerts in the church’s sanctuary. Now in its twenty-second season, previous year’s series have included performances by outstanding choirs such as The Vienna Choir Boys, Chanticleer (multiple times), Clare College Choir, and The Queen’s Six. Renowned instrumental groups have included Canadian Brass, Boston Brass, The Southern California Brass Consortium, and The Side Street Strutters Jazz Band. World-renowned organists include Frederick Swann, Nathan Laube, and Christopher Houlihan. St. Margaret's choir's performance of Nine Lessons and Carols in December is always among the highlights of the season.
- Presents the best in quality music programming for the desert community particularly in the areas of choral and organ performances.
- Supports the overall mission of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and increase awareness of its programs throughout the Valley.
- Showcases the church’s magnificent Quimby organ and to utilize the beautiful performance space provided by the large, spacious sanctuary.
- Encourages music education in area youth by providing low-cost access to concerts.
Each year, St. Margaret's Friends of Music sponsors a series of concerts in the church’s sanctuary. Now in its twenty-second season, previous year’s series have included performances by outstanding choirs such as The Vienna Choir Boys, Chanticleer (multiple times), Clare College Choir, and The Queen’s Six. Renowned instrumental groups have included Canadian Brass, Boston Brass, The Southern California Brass Consortium, and The Side Street Strutters Jazz Band. World-renowned organists include Frederick Swann, Nathan Laube, and Christopher Houlihan. St. Margaret's choir's performance of Nine Lessons and Carols in December is always among the highlights of the season.
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DOUGLAS LEIGHTENHEIMER, concert organist Sunday, November 24, 2024 | 2:00 PM St. Margaret’s Director of Music and Organist, Douglas Leightenheimer, showcases St. Margaret’s 71-rank Quimby Pipe Organ, Op. 50, in a concert presented in conjunction with the Palm Springs Concert Association. Admission: $35 JAMES KENNERLY, concert organist Friday, January 17, 2025 | 7:00 PM Hailed as “a great organist” displaying “phenomenal technique and sheer musicality” (Bloomberg News), James Kennerley is a multi-faceted artist whose performances are known for their illustrious flair and thrilling virtuosity, subtlety and finesse. A prize-winning composer, James specializes in music for organ and choral ensembles, and in works that incorporate historic instruments. Mr. Kennerley holds degrees from Cambridge University and The Juilliard School, as well as the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists diploma. Admission: $40 EMMET CAHILL, tenor
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 7:00 PM Star of PBS Phenomenon Celtic Thunder, Emmet Cahill has been widely hailed as Ireland’s Most Exciting Young Tenor. Appearances in North America have included. St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall and with the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. He is quickly building a reputation for being the golden voice of this generation. Admission: $40 ISABELLE DEMERS, concert organist Sunday, March 2, 2025 | 4:00 PM Isabelle Demers she has enraptured listeners worldwide with spell-binding performances. Her acclaimed recordings on the Acis and Pro Organo labels have been heralded as “expressive…profound and searching” (RSCM’s Church Music Quarterly). Born in Québec and a graduate of Juilliard, Dr. Demers is Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University in Montréal, Québec. Admission: $40 CHANTICLEER, vocal ensemble
Monday, May 12, 2025 | 7:00 PM Hailed for “its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, variety of color and swagger of style” (The Boston Globe), Chanticleer is a multiple Grammy Award-winning all-male vocal ensemble comprising twelve singers hailing from across the United States. Chanticleer’s repertoire spans ten centuries from Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony and Romantic art song to contemporary music, jazz, spirituals and world music. Admission: $50 |
About
St. Margaret's Friends of Music is governed by a volunteer, self-perpetuating executive council under the leadership of Douglas Leightenheimer, Director of Music. As an organization of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, ultimate responsibility lies with the church’s vestry, and the St. Margaret's Friends of Music executive council includes one or more vestry members. Besides the selection and planning of concert events, executive council members are responsible for many of the activities required to produce these events. These include publicity, ticket sales, audio-visual support, hosting and planning for the needs of guest artists, ushering, and setup and serving the receptions that follow most of the concerts.
St. Margaret's Friends of Music is governed by a volunteer, self-perpetuating executive council under the leadership of Douglas Leightenheimer, Director of Music. As an organization of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, ultimate responsibility lies with the church’s vestry, and the St. Margaret's Friends of Music executive council includes one or more vestry members. Besides the selection and planning of concert events, executive council members are responsible for many of the activities required to produce these events. These include publicity, ticket sales, audio-visual support, hosting and planning for the needs of guest artists, ushering, and setup and serving the receptions that follow most of the concerts.
