St. Mary of the Assumption Parish to host three concerts with sacred music during Lent

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PARK CITY  — Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City will host three concerts this month, all featuring sacred music.

The first concert will be “Sacred Twilight,” presented by Mitchell Sturges, tenor, and Emily Williams, piano. The recital will be in the format of an Evening Prayer service and will include the world premieres of two pieces: Sarah Wallin-Huff’s setting of Psalm 47, and Stephen Jackson’s “And you, whose eyes shall behold God.”

Jackson’s piece is based on works of the 16th-century English poet John Donne.

Also on the program will be the “Hymns of Hildegard,” which uses texts written by St. Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century German abbess and mystic. Sturges commissioned this piece in 2023 from Melissa Dunphy.

The concert will begin near sunset and end after dark. The church has large windows, so “with the slowly fading light, a small amount of light inside, and this incredible music, it will be a wonderful way to begin our Lenten journey this year,” Sturges said.

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” by the Wasatch Camerata Singers will be performed March 22 at St. Mary’s and March 23 at Saint Lawrence Mission in Heber. The music by Whitacre, Rutter, Ešenvalds and others will give “us a moment in the midst of Lent to appreciate God’s creation, similar to how we approach Laetare Sunday the weekend after this performance,” said Anthony Jewett, the parish’s director of evangelization.

“The Street,” an arrangement for harp by Nico Muhly with original text by Alice Goodman based on the 14 Stations of the Cross, will be sponsored by the Utah Chapter of the American Harp Society. Members of the society will perform the music. Between each of the 14 movements, Father Christopher Gray, pastor, will lead the meditations. This also will be paired with traditional chant.

“It is not only a beautiful set of music, but it’s a really great worship experience” that enhances contemplation of the Stations of the Cross, said Alissa Amundson, immediate past president of the Utah Chapter of the American Harp Society, who is organizing the concert.

The concert also is “a really lovely, wonderful way” to introduce the Stations of the Cross to people who may not be familiar with the devotion, she said, adding that performing the music has led her to deepen her relationship with Christ.  

“The Street” was commissioned by King’s College, Cambridge; it was first performed in 2022 by Parker Ramsay, harp, with Rosie Hillal as the narrator and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Ramsey also performed the piece last year at St. Mary’s.

The parish in Park City offers events like this because “I want to ensure that our parishioners have an opportunity to access all that is true, good and beautiful in the Catholic faith life,” Jewett said. “Music offers an alternative to the traditional speaking engagements or prayer services in that we listen to something created for the sole expression of worshipping God with these unique gifts he has given us, specifically art. Obviously, I highly encourage everyone to experience this deepening of their faith through every opportunity they can get.”

Thursday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. – “Evensong” by Mitchell Sturges, tenor, and Emily Williams, piano

Saturday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. –“All Things Bright and Beautiful”  by the Wasatch Camerata Singers

Sunday, March 23, 6:30 p.m. –“All Things Bright and Beautiful”  by the Wasatch Camerata Singers

Saturday, March 29, following the 5:30 p.m. Saturday vigil Mass – “The Street”

performed by members of the Utah Chapter of the American Harp Society

All performances except that on March 23 will be at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1505 W. White Pine Canyon Road, Park City.

The March 23 “All Things Bright and Beautiful” concert will be at St. Lawrence Mission, 5 South 100 West, Heber.

All of the concerts are free and open to the public.