Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Artistic Voyage

Come enjoy an evening of art and music on May 22, 2010
6:30 pm Gallery and 7:30 pm concert


From its very beginnings, the Christian church has been a place of fellowship. Over the centuries, that fellowship has often reflected the character of geography, society, customs, traditions, and the spiritual gifts of God’s people. Christian fellowship expands into church life to include communal worship, prayer, study, teaching, sharing, giving, and more. There is this fellowship in virtually every aspect of the church… from building projects, to building maintenance… from sharing of resources, to sharing of time and talent… and from loving God to loving one another.

At Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, California, the members (partners in ministry, as they call themselves) have a long history of sharing their time, and their amazing talents. The Messiah Fine Arts Ministry gives youth and adults an opportunity to develop and share their acting and dramatic gifts with the congregation and the community while working cooperatively to produce high quality stage presentations. There is also an excellent adult choir and an amazing children’s choir called Soul’d Out that is a performing arts group for grades K-6. Both the children’s music program and the adult choir are key parts of Messiah’s commitment to music as an important part of worship. All age groups have regular opportunities to contribute their gift of music to worship services and other special events. There are literally dozens of ways artistic gifts manifest themselves at Messiah: audio-visual presentations (which include worship materials, photography, and video), set building, architecture, construction, electronic media, music, drama, and art… to name just a few.

Messiah’s fellowship extends much further than their campus in North Orange County, as they support dozens of local charities, relief efforts, benevolence, and partnerships with other organizations and churches. In addition, the people of Messiah have a global vision to match their local efforts, and as such, support missions in Uganda, Peru, Mexico, and global missions throughout the world through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Messiah is also home and patron to a developing cultural and artistic center in North Orange County where people can celebrate music and art.

Artistic Voyage is a Yorba Linda-based classical music and art exposition series with a worldwide vision. The series uses the transformative power of music and art to inspire people from all walks of life to unite behind a common purpose to make a difference in the world. A portion of the proceeds from each event within the series are donated to worthwhile humanitarian causes throughout the world.

Imagine for a moment the church as concert hall and art gallery. It’s not all that difficult to do if you’ve toured the great cathedrals and basilicas of Europe. The church as patron of the arts is one theme that has persisted in the church for centuries. Imagine an evening of art and music to bring attention, benefit, and give hope to worthwhile causes.

Each month, a new Artistic Voyage transforms the walls of Messiah’s Life Center into new and exciting artistic visions. During the gallery opening, patrons have the opportunity to stroll through the gallery, chat with the artists, enjoy a glass of wine and tasty hors D'oeuvres, and perhaps acquire a bit of fine art at a reasonable price.

As the gallery showing concludes, the Artistic Voyage continues in Messiah’s Worship Center; transformed for the evening into an intimate concert hall. Different world class musicians, bring their talent and musical artistry to each unique concert performance. Musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Julliard School, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Colburn Conservatory, are just a few of the artists that bring great music to life in these incredible concerts.

One of the key ingredients that make the Artistic Voyage series so successful is world renowned pianist, Yana Reznik; founder and director of the Artistic Voyage series. She has been described critically as: “Phenomenal talent… expressing the extremes of human experience with textural refinement and blistering virtuosity.” Originally from Moscow, she has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras throughout North America, Europe, and Russia. In 2004, she gave a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut performance in New York as winner of the Artists International Competition. Ms. Reznik is also the choir director and organist for Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda; the host of the Artistic Voyage series.

Each Artistic Voyage event brings a focus on a different humanitarian cause. These have included Giving Children Hope (GCHope), St. Jude Medical Center’s Care for the Poor Program, and in May… Hope 4 Kid’s International’s: Hope for Women. Not only do a portion of the proceeds go toward the selected cause, but the humanitarian organizations are highlighted and have the opportunity to reach potential future donors and supporters.

Every event in the Artistic Voyage series has lived up to the billing: An evening of art and music to benefit a worthy cause. The next event is scheduled for May 22nd, 2010 and is billed as: Classical Gone Jazz. Tickets are only $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets, gallery and concert times, performance details, artists, and Hope for Women information can be found online at:

     http://www.artisticvoyage.org/

There are only a limited number of tickets available for each Artistic Voyage series event, so get yours today. Bring your sense of wonder and love of beauty, and bring oxygen, too… the art and the music are certain to take your breath away! I’ll see you there.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave Hoag

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