Category: Lyra Vivace

A Holiday Celebration

• December 13, 7:30 pm
• Featuring The Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 605 Reynolds St, Augusta, GA 30901
• Click here to purchase tickets

Greetings from In Praise of Music!

We hope 2025 has been good to you so far. As we look toward the upcoming holiday season, we want to share information about the concerts and services that will feature our musicians. Please check each venue’s website (listed below) for tickets and additional details.

In Praise of Music, founded in 2011 as the renamed continuation of a long-standing, musician-run resource, has grown into a trusted connector between professional musicians and the communities that welcome them. Over the years, we’ve become the go-to for high-quality, thoughtfully curated performances that reflect the character and needs of each venue, while keeping everything accessible, welcoming, and rooted in shared community spirit.

Musicians and their Communities Celebrating Music

Please click here for a calendar view of performances.

In Praise of Music is a unique resource of professional music performers and educators.

Please support In Praise of Music and our presenters by attending our performances, spreading the word about our activities, and sending gifts to our presenters designated for the hiring of professional instrumentalists.

All musicians listed in these performances are professional musicians from the Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble of In Praise of Music, unless noted otherwise.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 1, 2019: 11:00am service

• First Baptist Church
• 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-2236
• The following musicians will be joining members of the church orchestra:

Violins Ryan Kho Jonathan Aceto Pawel Kozak Angela Shaw Viola Carl Purdy Cello Christine Crookall Flute Erin Wilson Desiree Wiggill

Oboe Manda Cawthon Joshua Mello Clarinet Jay Rising Bassoon Joy Hoffman Katie Bennett Horn Rachel Misner

Trumpet Josh Workman Jessie Morlan Samuel Speering Trombone Kate Jenkins Jessica Wilkerson Steve Pruitt Percussion Michael Katterjohn Kevin Baggott

Sunday, December 8, 2019: 8:45am and 11:00am services

• Aldergate United Methodist Church
• 3185 Wheeler Rd, Augusta, GA, 30909
• (706) 733-4416

Ryan Kho, violin Laura Tomlin, violin

Carl Purdy, viola Christine Crookall, cello

Sunday, December 8, 2019, 9:30am and 11:00am services

• Wesley United Methodist Church
• 825 North Belair Rd, Evans GA 30809
• (706) 869-0888

Angela Morgan, violin Pawel Kozak, violin Laurin Smith, viola

Justin Resley, cello Sara Lokey, bass

Sunday, December 8, 2019, 11:00am service

• Martinez Methodist Church
• 3614 Washington Road, Martinez, GA 30907
• (706) 863-6541

Michelle Mills, violin Scotty Allen, violin Angela Shaw, viola Chris Connolly, cello Barry Garman, bass Erin Wilson, flute

Desiree Wiggill, flute Joshua Mello, oboe Maria Ortiz, clarinet Jay Rising, clarinet Katie Bennett, bassoon Kevin Baggott, percussion

Sunday, December 8, 2019: 11:00am service

• First Baptist Church, Aiken, SC
• A Festival of Lessons and Carols arr. Hal Hopson
• 120 Chesterfield Street N, Aiken, SC 29801
• (803) 648-5476

Damir Horvat, violin Ashley Horvat, violin Genny Nelson, viola

Karen Geigle, cello Kent Hannibal, percussion

Sunday, December 8, 2019: 6:30pm service

• Thomson First United Methodist
• 353 Main St, Thomson, Georgia 30824
• (706) 595-3936

Ryan Kho, violin Camila Mouton, violin

Genny Nelson, viola Christine Crookall, cello

Saturday, December 14, 2019, 7:30 pm

• Augusta Choral Society presents “A Merrie Olde Christemas”
• St. Paul’s Church
• 605 Reynolds St, Augusta, GA 30901
• (706) 724-2485
• Click here to purchase tickets

Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra

First Violin Ryan Kho Jonathan Aceto Laurin Smith Laura Tomlin Second Violin Pawel Kozak Debbie Schab Angela Shaw Viola Carl Purdy Karl Schab Arthur Ross Cello Christine Crookall Justin Resley Christopher Connolly

Bass Sara Lokey Flute Lorraine Jones Wendy Cohen Oboe Kelly Odell Manda Cawthon Clarinet Joseph Eller Steven Christ Bassoon Joy Hoffman Nib McKinney

Horn Anne Holmi Deryck Clarke Trumpet Todd Jenkins Deborah Caldwell Trombone Kate Jenkins Steve Pruitt Bass Trombone Matthew Henderson Timpani Michael Katterjohn Percussion Kent Hannibal

 

Sunday, December 15, 2019: 8:30am and 11:00am services

• Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church
• 1330 Monte Sano Ave, Augusta, GA 30904
• (706) 738-8822

Violin Thomas Lai Ryan Kho Amanda Igo Genny Nelson Priscilla Hollingsworth Emily Wait Viola Jeff Watson Cello Mary Ann Watson Karen Geigle

Bass Pam Dutch Trumpet Geoffrey Wood Samuel Speering Horn Rachel Misner Trombone Brian Yonn Tuba Keith Murray

Sunday, December 15, 2019: 8:45am and 11:00am services

• Aldergate United Methodist Church
• 3185 Wheeler Rd, Augusta, GA, 30909
• (706) 733-4416

Brass Quartet

Fabio Mann, trumpet Jessie Morlan, trumpet

Jessica Wilkerson, trombone Steve Pruitt, trombone

Sunday, December 15, 2019: 10:30am service

• Boulevard Baptist Church
• Small Dancing Light by Taylor Scott Davis
• 700 Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621
• (864) 225-8693

Violin Anastasia Petrunina Courtney Daglis Laurin Smith Vivian Cheng Benjamin Dawson Katie Taylor Viola Scotty Allen Claudia Malchow Cello Meredith Keen Bass Brian Gencarelli

Oboe Brian Seaton Clarinet Taylor Massey Bassoon Miguel Posadas Horn Anneka Zuehlke Christina Cornell Percussion Daniel Kirkpatrick Denis Petrunin

Sunday, December 15, 2019: 4:30pm and 6:30pm services

• First Presbyterian Church
• 642 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901
• (706) 262-8900

Violin Laura Tomlin Nyamka Odsuren Camilia Mouton Angela Shaw Viola Arthur Ross Genny Nelson Cello Justin Resley

Flute Erin Wilson Oboe Manda Cawthon Trumpet Debora Caldwell

Sunday, December 15, 2019, 6:00pm service

• Christ Church Presbyterian
• 4201 Southern Pines Dr, Evans, GA 30809
• (706) 210-9090

Ryan Kho, violin Amanda Igo, violin Jonathan Aceto, violin Carl Purdy, violin Christine Crookall, cello

Sara Lokey, bass Kelly Odell, oboe Steven Christ, clarinet Joy Hoffman, bassoon Deryck Clarke, horn

Sunday, December 15, 2019: 6:30pm service

• First Baptist Church
• 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-2236

Violin Pawel Kozak Thomas Lai Jason Pooler Priscilla Hollingsworth Viola Wesley Hamilton Cello Christopher Connolly Flute Bo Lee Mallory Berley

Oboe Kenny Bader Joshua Mello Clarinet Jay Rising Bassoon Andrew Stephens Horn Rachel Misner Trumpet Geoffrey Wood Jessie Morlan Samuel Speering

Trombone Matthew Henderson Steve Pruitt Bass Trombone Robert Slade Percussion Michael Katterjohn Kevin Baggott

Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 7:00pm service

• Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
• 402 Aumond Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-6076

Joseph Eller, clarinet

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 4:00pm and 6:00pm services

• Wesley United Methodist Church
• 825 North Belair Rd, Evans GA 30809
• (706) 869-0888

Laura Tomlin, violin Pawel Kozak, violin Angela Shaw, viola

Mary Ann Watson, cello Barry Garman, bass

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 4:30pm and 6:00pm services

• Grace Baptist Church, Evans, GA
• 4945 Hardy McManus Rd., Evans, Georgia 30809
• (706) 868-9729

Christopher Connolly, cello

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 5:00pm service

• First Baptist Church
• 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-2236

Amanda Igo, violin Nick Brucker, violin

Douglas Temples, viola Andrew Barnett, cello

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 5:00pm and 7:00pm services

• First Presbyterian Church
• 224 Barnwell Ave NW, Aiken, SC 29801
• (803) 648-2662

Shadwa Mussad, viola
Pai Liu, cello

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 5:30pm prelude for 6:00pm service and 9:30pm prelude for 10:00pm service

• Church of the Good Shepherd
• 2230 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904
• (706) 738-3386

Jonathan Aceto, violin Ryan Kho, violin

Carl Purdy, viola Christine Crookall, cello

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 6:30pm service

• Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
• 402 Aumond Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-6076

Ryan Kho, violin
Christine Crookall, cello

Tuesday, December 24, 2019: 9:00pm service

• St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, Augusta, GA
• 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904
• (706) 733-6627

Musicians – tba

In Praise of Music is a unique resource of professional music performers and educators based in Augusta, Georgia, and the Southeastern United States.

Please support In Praise of Music and our presenters by attending our performances, spreading the word about our activities, and sending gifts to our presenters designated for the hiring of professional instrumentalists.

All musicians are professional musicians from the Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble of In Praise of Music, unless noted otherwise.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 2, 2018, 11:00 am service

• Grace Methodist Church
• 639 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841

Kate Jenkins, trombone

Saturday, December 8, 2018, 7:30 pm

• Augusta Choral Society presents "A Caroling Messiah"
• St. Paul’s Church
• 605 Reynolds St, Augusta, GA 30901
• (706) 724-2485
• Click here to purchase tickets

First Violin Ryan Kho Laura Tomlin Ashley Horvat Damir Horvat Second Violin Pawel Kozak Debbie Schab Angela Shaw Viola Carl Purdy Karl Schab Laurin Smith

Cello Christine Crookall Justin Resley Bass Sara Lokey Flute Lorraine Jones Oboe Kelly Odell Manda Cawthon Clarinet Joseph Eller

Bassoon Joy Hoffman Horn Judith Cheeseman Thompson Trumpet Todd Jenkins Paul Lott Timpani Michael Katterjohn Percussion Matthew Jones Kent Hannibal

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 8:45am and 11:00am services

• Aldergate United Methodist Church
• 3185 Wheeler Rd, Augusta, GA, 30909
• (706) 733-4416

Jonathan Aceto, violin Ryan Kho, violin Carl Purdy, viola Christine Crookall, cello

Erin Wilson, flute Kelly Odell, oboe Rachel Misner, horn

---

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 11:00am service

• "Come, Ye Faithful," arranged by Hal Hopson
• First Baptist Church, Aiken, SC
• 120 Chesterfield Street N, Aiken, SC 29801
• (803) 648-5476

Wendy Cohen, flute Laura Tomlin, violin Pawel Kozak, violin

Arthur Ross, viola Justin Resley, cello Nina Brooks, harp

---

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 4:00pm and 7:00pm services

• FBC Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert
• First Baptist Church, Camden, SC
• 1201 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020

Damir Horvat, violin Ashley Horvat, violin Angela Shaw, violin Tess Hartis, violin Jeff Watson, viola Samara Humbert-Hughes, viola

Mary Ann Watson, cello Jenny Davis, flute Will Moon, oboe Josh Workman, trumpet Todd Jenkins, trumpet Jason Ortiz, trumpet

Michael Baker, trombone Will Graybill, trombone Robert Slade, bass trombone Scott Herring, percussion Greg Apple, percussion

---

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 4:30pm and 6:30pm services

• Evensong Lessons and Carols
• First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, GA
• 642 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901

Jonathan Aceto, violin Dana Duncan-Davis, violin Carl Purdy, viola

Ji-Ye Kim, cello Christopher Connolly, cello

---

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 6:15pm prelude and 6:30pm service

• Lessons and Carols – Choir and Brass
• Thomson First United Methodist
• 353 Main St, Thomson, Georgia 30824
• (706) 595-3936

Bulldog Brass Society from the University of Georgia

Shangduo Chen, trumpet Shaun Branam, trumpet Dilon Bryan, horn

Steve Jessup, trombone Joseph Guimaraes, tuba

---

Sunday, December 9, 2018: 7:30pm service

• "Christmas at First Baptist, " Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra Program
• First Baptist Church
• 3500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30909
• (706) 733-2236

Violin Ryan Kho Laura Tomlin Sarah Land Pawel Kozak Scotty Allen Kitty Shepheard Viola Arthur Ross Laurin Smith Cello Christine Crookall Justin Resley

Bass Sara Neal Lokey Flute Wendy Cohen Oboe Kelly Odell William Raine Clarinet Jay Rising Bassoon Joy Hoffman Felisha Jones

Trumpet Geoffrey Wood Jessie Morlan Victoria Bethel Trombone Matthew Henderson Kate Jenkins Timpani Michael Katterjohn Percussion Kevin Baggott Stephanie Phillips

---

Friday, December 14, 2018: 8:00pm

• Cirque Musica Holiday presents “Wonderland”
• Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA
• Click here to purchase tickets

Lyra Vivace Orchestra

First Violin Laura Tomlin, concertmaster Damir Horvat Mayumi Nakamura Nyamka Odsuren Shadwa Mussad Second Violin Laurin Smith Camilia Mouton Angela Shaw Thomas Lai Viola Carl Purdy Arthur Ross Jeff Watson Stan Pylant Cello Ji-Ye Kim Justin Resley Mary Ann Watson Chris Connolly Bass Jarod Boles Travis Shaw

Flute Wendy Cohen Erin Wilson Piccolo Cynthia Hopkins Oboe Kelly Odell Rebecca Nagel Clarinet Taylor Massey Charles Messersmith Bassoon Reed Hannah Joy Hoffman Horn Brandon Nichols Anne Holmi Mike Daly Judith Cheeseman Thompson

Trumpet Antonio Marti Kyle Lane Michael Smith Trombone Joshua Bynum Kate Jenkins Bass Trombone Robert Slade Tuba Christopher Bluemel Timpani Michael Katterjohn Percussion Matthew Jones Alissa Castero Kevin Baggott Harp Carolyn Munford

---

Sunday, December 16, 2018: 8:30am and 11:00am services

• Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church
• 1330 Monte Sano Ave, Augusta, GA 30904
• (706) 738-8822

Thomas Lai, violin Jason Pooler, violin Priscilla Hollingsworth, violin Shadwa Mussad, violin Louisa Shepheard, violin Kitty Shepheard, violin

Jeff Watson, viola Justin Resley, viola Christopher Connolly, viola Pam Dutch, bass Jessie Morlan, trumpet Sam Speering, trumpet

---

Sunday, December 16, 2018: 9:30am and 11:00am services

• Wesley United Methodist Church
• 825 North Belair Rd, Evans GA 30809
• (706) 869-0888

Ryan Kho, violin Nyamka Odsuren, violin Laurin Smith, violin Carl Purdy, viola

Ji-Ye Kim, cello Sara Neal Lokey, bass Carolyn Munford, harp

---

Sunday, December 16, 2018: 11:00am service

• Grace United Methodist Church
• 639 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC 29841

Bulldog Brass Society from the University of Georgia

Shangduo Chen, trumpet Shaun Branam, trumpet Dilon Bryan, horn

Steve Jessup, trombone Joseph Guimaraes, tuba

---

Sunday, December 16, 6:00pm service

• “Evensong, A Christmas Celebration”
• Christ Church Presbyterian
• 4201 Southern Pines Dr, Evans, GA 30809
• (706) 210-9090

Ryan Kho, violin Jonathan Aceto, violin Laura Tomlin, violin Carl Purdy, viola

Ji-Ye Kim, cello Sara Neal Lokey, bass Kelly Odell, oboe Joy Hoffman, bassoon

---

Monday, December 24, 2018: 4:00pm and 6:00pm services

• Wesley United Methodist Church
• 825 North Belair Rd, Evans GA 30809
• (706) 869-0888

Laura Tomlin, violin Shadwa Mussad, violin Angela Shaw, viola

Ji-Ye Kim, cello Travis Shaw, cello

---

Monday, December 24, 2018: 4:30pm and 6:00pm services

• Grace Baptist Church, Evans, GA
• 4945 Hardy McManus Rd., Evans, Georgia 30809

Christopher Connolly, cello

---

Monday, December 24, 2018: 5:30pm prelude for 6:00pm service and 9:30pm prelude for 10:00pm service

• Church of the Good Shepherd
• 2230 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904
• (706) 738-3386

Jonathan Aceto, violin Ryan Kho, violin

Carl Purdy, viola Christine Crookall, cello

---

Monday, December 24, 2018: 9:00pm services

• St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, Augusta, GA
• 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904

Laura Tomlin, violin
Shadwa Mussad, violin
Ji-Ye Kim, cello

Verdi’s Requiem

Featuring

• Augusta Choral Society
• Choral Friends from Presbyterian College
• Candace Dickinson, soprano
• Magdalena Wor, mezzo-soprano
• Timothy Miller, tenor
• Christian Elser, bass
• The Lyra Vivace Orchestra
• Dr. J. Porter Stokes, Artistic Director & Conductor

March 25, 2017, 7:30 pm

• Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene St, Augusta, GA 30901
• Admission is $35 for adults, $30 for seniors (60+) and $10 for students and military. Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here for more information about the Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra.