Eternal Light: A Celebration of American Choral Tradition

The First Presbyterian Church Choir presents a concert that traces 250 years of American choral tradition through music of profound beauty, faith, and innovation.

This program honors the rich lineage of American sacred music, beginning with William Billings of Boston, widely regarded as the country’s first choral composer. His pioneering voice laid the foundation for a tradition that continues to evolve even today. The concert also features spirituals as shaped by composers such as William Dawson, Florence Price, and Alice Parker, whose works preserves and elevates this deeply expressive and essential part of the American musical heritage.

Contemporary voices bring new dimensions to this tradition. Excerpts from David Lang’s Poor Hymnal (2023) offer a striking and contemplative reimagining of communal song, adding a modern layer of spiritual reflection. Music by Caroline Shaw, including And the Swallow (2016), represents the creativity and originality of today’s composers, building on the past while speaking with a distinct and personal voice.

The program also includes excerpts from Music Director Bálint Karosi’s new composition, The Seven Last Words, with Paul Fleckenstein on the organ. This work contributes a fresh perspective to the ongoing story of sacred music in America.

The concert concludes with selections from Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, a luminous and deeply moving work that brings the program to a close with a sense of peace, hope, and radiant beauty.

A reception will follow in Old Buttonwood Hall. All are warmly invited to attend this celebration of tradition, innovation, and the enduring light of choral music.

Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $20 to support Concerts at First.

Join us for Bach Birthday Philadelphia, an immersive celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach featuring acclaimed performers and historic instruments. The afternoon showcases organ masterworks, chamber music for traverso and harpsichord, and culminates with a complete performance of the Goldberg Variations.

Performed on the 1783 Eben Organ, our large sanctuary organ, and period instruments, this event offers a rare opportunity to hear Bach’s music as it was meant to sound—rich, expressive, and deeply human.

Click below to view the complete afternoon schedule and to purchase tickets. Tickets are $20 for the entire afternoon; you may come and go for any portion of the program.

On-street parking is available with placard.

Cantata BWV 150 (free admission)

Sunday, March 22, 2026 – 11:00 AM Worship Service
Cantata BWV 150 Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
Performed by the First Presbyterian Choir & Period Orchestra
Conducted by Bálint Karosi

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an unforgettable evening where music, wine, and history intertwine. Journey through Northern Italy’s rich Baroque heritage with a curated wine and cheese pairing inspired by the region’s culinary treasures, set to live music on a magnificent historic Italian pipe organ from Verona (1750).

Featuring works by Northern Italian Baroque masters—including Frescobaldi, Fontana, Vivaldi, Tartini, and Corelli—this immersive concert highlights the expressive beauty of the era. Performers include Bálint Karosi, on the historic Italian pipe organ, and Isabella Seula Lee, Baroque violin.

🎶 Authentic 18th-century Italian organ from Verona ca. 1750
🍷 Wine & cheese included with admission
💘 A perfect Valentine’s Day experience

Limited to 60 guests.
Tickets: $50 per person (includes wine and cheese)
($40 for FPC Members with promocode “FPCMEMBER”)

The event will be held in Old Buttonwood Hall; please enter on 21st Street. On-street parking is available with placard.

Join us for an intimate evening celebrating love, music, and the timeless flavors of Northern Italy!

Celebrate the Advent season with a stirring concert of Baroque masterworks at First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia on Saturday, December 13. The First Presbyterian Choir and Period Orchestra, led by Bálint Karosi on harpsichord, present two Advent Cantatas by J. S. Bach—Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 and Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 10—alongside Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Magnificat, H. 73. Also featured is our historic 1783 Peter Iben Cabinet organ in Handel's Organ Concerto Op. 7 No. 2 with Bálint Karosi as soloist. Soloists include Adrienne Lotto (soprano), Robin Bier (alto), Bradley King (tenor), and Andrew Beuninger & Nick Fahrenkrug (bass).

Tickets $20 ($10 for members and students)
Click here for tickets!

• First Church members: use promo code "FPCMEMBER"

• Students: use promo code "STUDENT"

On-street parking is available with placard!

Concerts@First presents Nosferatu

Halloween Silent Movie with Live Accompaniment performed by Kalle Toivio.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is a 1922 silent German Expressionist vampire film directed by F. W. Murnau from a screenplay by Henrik Galeen. It stars Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who preys on the wife of his estate agent and brings the plague to their town. Nosferatu was produced by Prana Film and is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Various names and other details were changed from the novel, including Count Dracula being renamed Count Orlok.

Tickets $20 ($10 for members and students)
Click here for tickets!

• First Church members: use promo code "FPCMEMBER"

• Students: use promo code "STUDENT"

On-street parking is available with placard!