Press Release
Portageville Chapel Dedication Concert Open to the Public Portageville, NY, September 4. The Portageville Chapel today announced that it will hold a dedication concert Saturday, September 27, at 5:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. However, because seating inside the chapel is limited, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Timothy Smith and John Novak will perform on the newly installed Schantz pipe organ, a two-manual instrument with over 800 pipes. The concert will also feature a 16-member choir from Letchworth Central High School, performing under the direction of John Novak. Benjamin Wiant will play the chapel's nine-foot concert grand piano. Tenors Michael Calmes, from Boston, MA and Kevin Cubick, from Columbus, OH will also perform. The dedication concert marks the completion of major restoration work on the building. Built in 1841 as a Universalist Church, the New England-style meetinghouse is being restored by The Portageville Chapel, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. To date, restoration work has been almost entirely funded by private donations. The organization is actively pursuing grant opportunities to complete work such as rebuilding the stone steps to the front doors and replicating the original spire. Notable features of the building include nine magnificent clear-glass windows, a slanted floor, and box pews with doors. Said Timothy E. Smith, executive director of The Portageville Chapel, “While there is still much work to be done, the dedication concert will give the community a chance to experience the transformation of this historic treasure first hand. Installing the pipe organ required very little change to the interior. In fact, it seems to belong there.” The Portageville Chapel will open as a retreat for organists in April of 2009, when organists will be able to rent the facility for a week at a time during the spring, summer and fall. Said Smith, “Few organists can afford their own instrument, so when they practice, it is usually in a public space where they are competing with the sounds of vacuum cleaners, telephones or conversations shouted across rooms. Our goal is to create an extraordinary experience where organists can escape for a week at a time to practice new music in a wholly private setting, drawing inspiration from the beauty of Letchworth State Park.” The chapel is located ¼ mile from the south entrance to the park. For more information or to inquire about reservations for the 2009 season, visit www.portagevillechapel.org. |