Sacred music and prayer will fill San Marco Catholic Church as the Marco Island Community Chorus returns with its annual Lenten Cantata. The concert-worship service is scheduled to take place on March 22, beginning at 3:00 PM, marking a meaningful lead-up to the Easter celebration.
This year’s program, called “What Love is this? Suffering Servant – Conquering King,” features music by composers Lloyd Larson, Mary McDonald, Brad Nix, Marty Parks, and Larry Shackley. The chorus will also present works by Dan Forrest, a noted composer in American choral music.
The event is designed to welcome everyone and help set the mood for Holy Week, according to Janet Stapleton, the chorus’s executive director. She emphasized that the cantata is not only a concert but also a prayer service, with time for meditation, scripture reading, and hymns sung by all attending. Audience participation is a key part, making it a shared experience.
Longtime director-conductor Kathleen Osborn Gerdes, who also leads the church’s music ministry, will conduct the performance. Judy Wright will serve as the assistant director, while Chris Moore from the United Church of Marco will play the piano. An orchestra featuring young musicians from Collier County will join the performance, adding another layer to the music.
The chorus is made up of singers from nine different area churches and grows from 45 to as many as 60 members during tourist season. The group also presents an Advent concert each year. All performances are free, supported by donations and contributions from chorus members and attendees, helping cover the costs of musicians, music, and event materials.
