The Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, will hold a “Strings, Pipes, Kaboom!” concert at 3 p.m. Sept. 30. Residents of all communities are invited to attend the concert.
“Strings, Pipes, Kaboom!” will feature the combined efforts of organ, bagpipes, ukuleles, drums and kazoos. Each instrument brings its own unique sound to a program of classics from diverse genres, according to a press release.
“It’s proof that what seems so different can actually be very complimentary,” said Mike McCormick of Upper Freehold Township, who organized the concert as a way of celebrating his 35 years as a church organist, the last 16 of which have been at the Church of St. Ann.
McCormick will be at the console of the church’s three manual digital Allen organ and will accompany the sounds of ukuleles and bagpipes.
The Mid-Jersey Ukulele Circle under the direction of Carol O’Connell has performed throughout central New Jersey since 2014. Piper Pam Silver and drummer Doug Clark have more than 50 years’ experience and offer Scottish standards as well as the unexpected: arrangements of nursery rhymes and patriotic anthems for bagpipe, drum and organ, according to the press release.
Audience members will be “instrumental” in the program’s grand finale: a new arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” for organ, bagpipe, drums, ukulele, kazoo and light artillery. All present will receive a kazoo and will be invited to play along in a triumphant rendition of the piece, according to the press release.
Admission to the concert is free. A free-will offering will be accepted, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Kiwanis Camp Experience, a summer camp program of the Trenton Kiwanis and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection which offers free camping trips at High Point State Park for disadvantaged Trenton children who would not otherwise be able to afford to go, according to the press release.
A free “Meet the Musicians” reception will follow the performance. Free parking is available.
