‘Live music: Paris for Christmas’

    

Among the yuletide highlights in New York City is the anticipated concert organized by Bro. Erik Carlson, musical director of my lodge, Publicity 1000. This time, the free festivities will be “Paris for Christmas.” From the publicity:

Thursday, December 19 at 7 p.m.

Church of St. Thomas More

65 East 89th Street

Free admission; reception to follow

This Year, Let’s All Go

to Paris for Christmas!

🎄 Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saens

🎄 Four Christmas Motets by Francis Poulene

🎄 French Organ Music by Alexandre Guilmant and Octave Parisot

🎄 Featuring the St. Thomas More Concert Choir under the direction of Erik E. Carlson with the St. Thomas More Christmas Orchestra of strings, harp, and organ.

Don’t miss it!

Erik E. Carlson will conduct the orchestra as well as play organ and direct the choir. Erik studied piano from an early age that lead to his formal conservatory training where he graduated from the Hartt School of Music with degrees in both keyboard performance and music theory. He has been a professional church musician in New York City for the last twenty years, specializing in sacramental service playing.

Pursuing his interest in the nineteenth century organ music of France, Erik has played throughout the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy, including at the parish churches of Paroisse Saint-Louis, Saint-Gengoux-le-National, Saint-Georges, Sercy, and Église Saint-Didier, Joncy.

At St. Thomas More, he continues this level of French organ music and enjoys the Lively-Fulcher organ for its unique sounds and colors.

Talk about publicity, here Bro. Erik shows off the concert announcement on the wall above the Bowery Mural. 

He is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the National Arts Club.

Outside of church music, Erik enjoys time with his family, including his dearly loved beagle, Brogan.