Evenstar Ensemble’s Concert at St. Mark’s
Saturday, May 2nd, 7 pm – Come inside our beautiful and sacred 100-year old sanctuary and surround yourself in the music of early Renaissance masters sung by Evenstar Ensemble. This concert of sacred early-music, was the final of their season, entitled Path to Venice – was a beautiful a musical journey through time connecting four composers who developed and exemplified the Venetian style in the Renaissance.
Ticket holders were invited to a ‘Concert Prelude‘ at 6:15 pm in the Parish Hall. The pre-concert talk was offered to enhance the evening’s overall experience with an introduction to the history, architecture, and sacred nature of the sanctuary. Ensemble founders added insights to the music history even before the first note was sung.
Learn more about Evenstar Ensemble here.
The Tallis Scholars workshop with the Grant HS Royal Blues
St. Mark’s hosted another very special music event in the sanctuary this past Thursday. The Tallis Scholars are a British professional early music vocal ensemble established in 1973 (over 50 years ago!). Usually consisting of two singers per part, with a core group of ten singers, they specialize in performing a cappella sacred vocal music. And I understand from our local singers that The Tallis Scholars are the ‘best of the best’ in the ‘early music’ world. They were in Portland for a one-night concert held at St. Mary’s Cathedral last Thursday evening. Our favorite chorale director, John Eisemann, who is the founder and artistic director for Evenstar Ensemble AND the chorale director at Grant High School arranged for the Royal Blues choir to receive instruction and guidance to early music with The Tallis Scholars in a workshop format. The workshop was held in the St. Mark’s sanctuary on Thursday afternoon! John arrived with his 30 Royal Blues choir members in a school bus, and they were joined by the ten core Tallis Scholars and their founder/director Peter Phillips. Once they entered the sanctuary, they went to work! The conductors had constant collaboration and feedback opportunities; the kids were excited to try the music with new emphasis or style. The 90-minute collaboration appeared to be exhilarating for all. Please enjoy these two short clips – one is sung by the Royal Blues at the close of the workshop. (Note – this is one of the selections they worked to improve in the workshop.) Also you can see a short clip in which The Tallis Scholars sang alone to demonstrate something they were working toward. The ten Tallis singers joined the Royal Blues to sing with the kids throughout the workshop, offering their support and feedback. The kids left the church with smiles across their faces and spring in their steps! What a thrill for them.
Looking back on a Century of Faith Events of 2025
June 22 & September 14 & November 9
and St. Francis Day 4-PAWS Expo from October 4
(pet blessings & remembrances; pet photo booth; pet food drive & more!)
See May 20, 2025 Press Release 100th Anniversary Cornerstone Blessing & Church Tours
Here is a follow-up article to our Church Tour which appears on Fred Leeson’s blogspot, Building on History from June 25, 2025.
See August 27, 2025 Press Release 100th Anniversary Open House & Church Tours and photos below
Read St. Francis Day Press Release from October 4th 4-PAWS Expo event; see Flyer
November 9 Historic Event Press Release – Bishop Ashman reconsecrates the church; principal Trumpet from the Oregon Symphony accompanies the service; brunch, Architectural History talk and church tour.