Cultural Events Music Series

First United Methodist Church of San Diego’s cultural event music series brings a mix of classic and folk music to the Mission Valley neighborhood of San Diego. These free concerts take place throughout the year thanks to our generous donors. Please let us know if you'd like to support the CEC Music Series.

2026-27 Concert Season

We're excited to announce our 2026-27 Cultural Events concert lineup! Join us for 6 free concerts featuring local and traveling award-winning musicians. Plus, mark your calendars for our special Evensong services - one in September and another in February - and our Sankofa Choral Festival!

Buddhist Temple of San Diego Taiko Performance

Buddhist Temple of San Diego Taiko

Saturday, Oct. 24 | 4 PM | Sanctuary Plaza
Join us for an afternoon of Taiko: a traditional Japanese practice involving drumming, chanting, and choreography. Members of the Buddhist Temple of San Diego will lead a Q&A after the program.

Advent Collage Concert

Saturday, Dec. 12 | 4 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
This festive concert will showcase all of First Church’s youth and adult music ensembles. Program features congregational carols, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and excerpts from Messiah and Nutcracker. Childcare provided.

Felix Hell Organist

Felix Hell, Organ

Saturday, Mar. 13 | 4 PM | Sanctuary
Renowned German concert organist Felix Hell “sets standards that older and honored players would struggle to equal.” Come hear Mr. Hell in concert on First Church’s celebrated Blackinton Organ.

MaryRuth Miller soprano

St. Matthew's Passion

Friday, Mar. 26 | 7 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
For this special Good Friday, the Chamber Choir will perform Bach’s epic masterpiece, St. Matthew’s Passion. Featuring Baroque orchestra and soprano MaryRuth Miller as the Evangelist.

San Diego State University Brass Ensemble

SDSU Brass Ensemble

Saturday, Apr. 17 | 4 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
This extravagant program will feature the San Diego State University’s Brass Ensemble and organist Sarah Amos. The San Diego Festival Chorus will join to finish the concert with John Rutter’s Gloria.

Spring Choral Concert: Missa Solemnis, Op.123

Saturday, May 8 | 4 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
The Masterwork Chorale and Chancel Choir, under the direction of Brian Woods-Lustig, will perform Beethoven’s epic Missa Solemnis, Op. 123. Featuring FUMCSD’s Section Leaders and orchestra. Childcare available.

2026-27 Choral Evensongs

Join us for these peaceful evening services that feature music, chants, scripture, and quiet rest. Blending beautiful choral music, Bible readings, and quiet prayers help us close the day in a meaningful yet low-pressure way. You don't need to know the words or sing along. Simply sit in the pew and soak in the worship.

Evensong for Peace

Saturday, Sept. 19 | 4 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
Join this peace-focused service led by the FUMCSD Chamber Choir and Secondary Voices (our youth choir), that will feature a new composition by Sean MacRae Smith.

LGBTQ Celebration Evensong

Saturday, Feb. 6 | 4 PM | Sanctuary & Livestream
Featuring music by LGBTQ composers, the service will be led by the FUMCSD Chamber Choir and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral Choir, along with guest organist Bruce Neswick.

2026 Sankofa Choral Festival: Nov 7 & 8

Join us for two days of concerts benefiting the FUMCSD Racial Justice Ministry!
More details, including ticket sales coming soon.

Tonality

Saturday, Nov. 7 | 4 PM | Sanctuary
This award-winning vocal ensemble uses their voices to address social justice to act as a catalyst toward empathy and community activism. Recipient of the 2020 Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and 2024 GRAMMY® winner in New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album.

Sankofa Celebration Concert

Sunday, Nov. 8 | 4 PM | Sanctuary
Reception to follow in Linder Lounge, celebrating the work of the Sankofa Pilgrimages. Alexander Lloyd Blake, Founding Artistic Director of Tonality, will conduct the Masterwork Chorale and Chancel Choir for an inspiring program featuring music by Black Composers.

Support the Music Series

Our music series is made possible through the support of generous donors. Please consider becoming a patron of the music series!
Make a Donation

A Word From the Cultural Events Music Committee

We are so fortunate to receive your generous contributions dedicated to the Cultural Events Committee Music Series. While we always have enthusiastic audiences for these concerts, the free-will offerings and donations at the door simply do not cover the actual expenses of underwriting these excellent performances. We are dedicated to producing only high-quality and inspirational events, so your donations truly make that possible.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at the Music Series concerts this season and for many years to come!

Katherine Stone, Chair, Cultural Events Committee
First United Methodist Church of San Diego

Cultural Events Committee

Katherine Stone, chair, Sarah Amos, Jim Bliesner, Nick Hubsmith, Brenda Martin, Belen Poltorak, Janice Roudebush, Nathan Stone, Brian Woods-Lustig

Concert Recordings

Here are recordings of some of our previous events for you to enjoy.

Patrick Scott Organ Concert

Recorded September 5, 2025

An evening of entertainment with award-winning organist Patrick Scott, Director of Music and Organist, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Memphis, Tennessee. The recipient of the 2014 American Guild of Organists’ National Competition in in Organ Improvisation, Dr. Scott presents a program featuring both treasured classics of pipe organ repertoire as well an improvised suite based on suggested themes from the audience.

Choral Evensong: All Saints' Day

Recorded November 1, 2025

Featuring FUMCSD Chamber Choir, conductor Brian Woods-Lustig, and organist Sarah Amos, this beautiful service celebrates All Saints' Day.

Advent Concert: Bach, Forbes L'Estrange, and Carols

Recorded December 13, 2025

Featuring FUMCSD Masterwork Chorale and Chancel Choir and Brian Woods-Lustig, Conductor, this concert includes the world premiere performance of modern composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s San Diego Service Magnificat as well as her piece A Season to Sing, which offers a choral re-imagining of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. Our choirs also sing Bach’s classic piece Wachet ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers wake).

MLK Jr. Community Choir of San Diego

Recorded February 21, 2026

Led by Ken Anderson, Director, this celebrated multicultural choir blends traditional and contemporary gospel with spirituals, anthems, and oratorios in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

Choral Evensong: Women's History Month

Recorded March 7, 2026

Featuring FUMCSD Chamber Choir, conductor Brian Woods-Lustig, and guest organist Emma Whitten, this beautiful service celebrates Women’s History Month with music written by female composers, including the world premiere of Joanna Forbes L'Estrange's Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) from the San Diego Service!

SDSU Chamber Choir: Electroacoustic Music

Recorded April 11, 2026

Led by Arian Khaefi, Director, enjoy electroacoustic music with San Diego State University’s Chamber Choir. The advanced ensemble will perform Mason Bates’ Mass Transmission for choir, organ, and electronics in addition to other celebrated choral works.

Spring Choral Concert: Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle

Recorded May 9, 2026

Featuring FUMCSD Masterwork Chorale and Chancel Choir, and soloists, and Brian Woods-Lustig, conductor, this special performance brings to life Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, a lesser-known mass setting written with an operatic flair.