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The choirs of First Presbyterian Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and St. Peter’s Catholic Church will present a pair of combined shows in April.

The trio of churches will perform Heather Sorenson’s Requiem for chorus and chamber orchestra on April 12 and 13.

Andrew Harry, Director of Music for First Presbyterian Church, said this is the first time all three of the downtown churches have performed together.

“First Presbyterian and St. Mark’s have worked together a bunch in the last few years, but this is the first time St. Peter’s is joining us,” Harry said. “It’s going to be exciting having that many people come together. We’ll have about 90 musicians in total.“

Harry collaborated with Bettie Biggs, Interim Music Director for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and Elizabeth Whitfield, Music Director for St. Peter’s Catholic Church, to put on the productions.

The requiem will feature soloists Elizabeth Whitfield, soprano, and Jonathan Pilkington, tenor.

“Commissioned in honor of those lost to COVID, Sorenson’s Requiem was written to bring hope and healing to all who have experienced loss. The combined church choirs are presenting this work as Holy Week begins to create a time for contemplating the life of Christ, his sacrificial death and hope of redemption,” Harry said. 

The choirs will also present the Lacrimosa, “Day of Tears,” from Mozart’s Requiem and Benedictus from Karl Jenkin’s Mass for Peace.

“Seeing collaboration like this is really fun and exciting. Being able to present a major work like this in a church is a significant feat. I think it’s going to be something people are not going to want to miss, but it’s also going to be something that’s very memorable, both for all of the musicians who are involved, but as well as everybody who attends,” Harry said.

Harry said several members of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra will assist with the performance.

“It’s not the symphony that’s officially collaborating; they’ve assisted us in finding instrumentalists for this whole performance,” he explained.

The Requiem service will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 120 Broad Street in LaGrange on Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, at 4 p.m.

Admission to both performances is free of charge.