New Lenox Catholic church offers Chicago-quality music performance

NEW LENOX – As unique and ornate as snowflakes drifting through a winter sky, the sounds of church hymns will fill the St. Jude Catholic Church on Sunday for the “Canticles in Candlelight: A Cantata for Christmas.”

The annual presentation of the Joseph Martin classic, under the direction of Tom Labanauskas, St. Jude’s music director, will be performed by the St. Jude Music Ministry Choirs & Orchestra and feature guest soloists from the Chicago Lyric Opera, joined by The Handbell Choir of the United Methodist Church of New Lenox.

“It’s great to be performing with them,” said Mike Weirman, director of The Handbell Choir of the United Methodist Church of New Lenox, which will be marking its second year as part of the program. “It makes for something really special, something you don’t get every Sunday. It’s really beautiful. We’re very much excited by it.”

The Canticles – more musically structured programs featuring a wider array of instrumentation than typical holiday fare – are in their fifth season and attendance has grown each year, to a high of 800 in 2013, Labanauskas said.

The church is decorated and arranged as elaborately as the music, blooming with an array of poinsettias and white mums, presenting a welcoming winter tableau, Labanauskas added.

“We try to make it a wonderful experience for people in all ways,” Labanauskas said. “People have commented, in the past, that if this were held in Chicago, you would be paying at least $50 or more for a ticket.”

However, this event – which is free, is an hour long and appropriate for all ages – eliminates the need for the hassle of driving in traffic to enjoy a high-caliber performance.

“You really can’t beat it,” Labanauskas said. “We hope that not only will people who have attended in the past will return, but that new attendees will come out and give it a try.”

Labanauskas began directing a Christmas concert for the church more than a decade ago, but it was in 2009 that he decided to switch to the current format.

“We did a good job with it,” Labanauskas said of the traditional concert. “People enjoyed it and we got a lot of people coming out, a lot of regular church-goers really enjoyed it. Then I came across a composer, Joseph Martin, who had done these cantatas for a full chorus and I decided that was really the route to go.”

The difference, Labanauskas said, is that the music is structured to incorporate holiday music. In the traditional concert, Labanauskas chose the music and then put together a program.

“From the first time we tried it, I knew I’d made the right decision. It just felt right,” Labanauskas said. “And it’s been very successful.”

Labanauskas’ contacts have provided the talent pool from which he’s plumbed his performers. He’s quick to add that all of the performers are donating their services.

“It’s an outreach for them as well,” Labanauskas said.

The number of performers have increased as they’ve created a more elaborate production. And from an artistic standpoint, Labanauskas said it’s gotten better each year, to the extent that he’s looking forward to this year’s show, not just as a director, but as a fan of the music.

“The different performers lend it a different quality and bring different sounds to the mix, which make every year unique,” Labanauskas said. “Any time you have a live music performance, you’re getting something different every time, even if it’s the same musicians in two different shows. It’s not just the material, it’s the way they play on that day.”

The musical excursion also has an ecumenical effect as well, he said.

“In its own way it’s an outreach to the community, and invitation for people to come to the church, to get a feel for it, look around and get a sampling of what we’re about and what it’s like here,” Labanauskas said.

The fact it celebrates a season of giving is significant, he said, noting that in many ways he wants the performance to be a gift to the community and the congregation.

“There’s been a real pride in the congregation as this has grown and gotten more popular, and as it’s gotten better and better,” Labanauskas said. “We keep hearing everyone saying things like they’re planning their Christmas schedule and they plan around this event to make sure everyone can come, and that makes us really happy, because everyone is welcome here.”

–––––––––––

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Canticles in Candlelight: A Cantata for Christmas”

WHEN: 3 p.m. Nov. 30

WHERE: St. Jude Catholic Church, 241 W. Second Ave. New Lenox

ETC: Featuring St. Jude Music Ministry Choirs & Orchestra, guest soloists from the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Handbell Choir of the United Methodist Church of New Lenox.

COST: Free

CONTACT: 815-485-8049 or visit www.stjudes.org