7:30 p.m. Oct. 18
The FirstARTS series of First United Methodist Church announces its 12th season of concerts, beginning Friday with a concert featuring Canto Zenzero (“The Singing Gingers”) performing a music of Celtic splendor. The ensemble includes soprano Ginny Weant, a native of Salisbury.

4 p.m Nov. 3
The series continues with Matthew Michael Brown performing an organ recital “In Homage: Music for Saints” on Nov. 3. The concert will feature Brown performing music of J.S. Bach, Herbert Howells, William Bolcolm, César Franck, and Alexandre Guilmant on the 53-rank Parkey-Schantz organ

8 p.m. Dec. 12
A highlight of the series will include the return appearance of the Greensboro-based choral ensemble, Bel Canto Company, on Dec. 12. Under the direction of Dr. Welborn Young, the performance will feature spirited carols and music of the season. A $10 suggested donation is requested.

Each year, FirstARTS also includes a mini-series called Fridays@First, 30-minute noonday concerts throughout the season of Advent.

The first concert begins Friday, Dec. 6 at noon featuring organist Matthew Michael Brown.
The next concert will feature tenor David Hamilton performing music of American composers Aaron Copland, Kenneth Frazelle, and Steven Mark Kohn.
Concluding this mini-series will be Salisbury native and pianist Deborah Busby Coclanis, joined by soprano Leslie Curtis and narrator Ann Harrison, performing “Infant Lowly: An Intimate Pageant for Christmas.”

First United Methodist Church’s popular Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is for Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m., featuring the premiere of a newly-commissioned work by Utah-based composer Barlow Bradford, titled “O Magnum Mysterium.”
Representatives from various non-profit organizations will join the choirs of First Church to share glad tidings of Christmas.

FirstARTS continues Satruday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Duke University Chorale under the direction of Dr. Rodney Wynkoop. This concert serves as the series’ annual Concert for Community Collaboration, benefitting the Community Care Clinic of Rowan County.

In celebration of the 800th anniversary of the building of Salisbury Cathedral (UK), FirstARTS will host David Halls, Master of Music from Salisbury Cathedral, for an afternoon performance on Sunday, May 24 at 4 p.m. The concert will feature the combined choirs of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church joined by brass quintet, organ, and timpani, including the premiere of a commissioned work by David Halls, director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, for the occasion.

The series concludes with Choral Evensong on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m. with music for Trinity Sunday, including works by Harrison Oxley, Herbert Brewer, and John West.

FirstARTS is under the artistic direction of Matthew Michael Brown, director of music and organist at First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St. and is made possible through the annual support of church members and supporters in the community.