Central Congregational Church in Madison Village will launch concert series

A Madison Village church will be presenting a concert series in its sanctuary, in hopes that some of the music lovers will return to attend Sunday worship services.

“It’s going to be an eclectic bunch of concerts,” said Dave Van Dusen, a member of the church who’s helping to launch the series.

Van Dusen said he’s been thinking for the past three or four years about hosting a concert series as a way to introduce new people to the church.

“I’ve been observing what some other area churches have done,” he said. “The First United Church of Christ in Austinburg Township (in Ashtabula County), they’re very active about bringing in outside musical groups to create interest in the church.”

Painesville United Methodist Church has sponsored a community concert series for many years, he added.

Although Central Congregational Church has not yet booked its entire 2023-2024 concert series, Van Dusen announced the musical entertainment that’s planned for the first three months of the inaugural season.

• Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Young and Blue will perform during the opening night of the series. Led by Rick Campbell of Geneva, the band plays traditional bluegrass and some gospel music.

“Rick has been teaching banjo and mandolin for many years and is the inspiration for this talented group,” Van Dusen said. “I am confident that this will be a very exciting and entertaining kickoff for our event season.”

• Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. The Don Disantis Ensemble will entertain the audience with Frank Sinatra tunes.

“Don is not a Sinatra impersonator, but simply loves his music and will share it with us,” Van Dusen said. “I think this is a program that will be very enjoyable.”

Disantis has a background in both theater and music, and formerly served as lead male vocalist for the Harry Hershey Orchestra.

• Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. Central Congregational Church organist Paulette Szuhay will play Christmas carols and other yuletide music. This performance is slated during the same time frame as the 2023 Christmas in Madison Village Park program taking place in Village Square, which is adjacent to the church.

Van Dusen said this concert will give the church an opportunity to highlight its pipe organ, which recently was rebuilt.

“We’ll also serve cookies and hot chocolate, and hopefully attract some of the folks that are coming to the square,” he said.

Christmas in Madison Village Park is an annual event sponsored by the Madison Joint Recreation District.

Van Dusen said he’s working on securing bands for the monthly concerts that will be held from January through April.

“We’re talking to people but don’t have everything in place yet,” he said. “As this unfolds, we will announce the groups and scheduled dates.”

Admission to the concerts will be free of charge, but spectators can make financial donations to support the series, Van Dusen said.

Van Dusen and three of his fellow church members — Rowena Baldwin, Duke Biscotti and Cheryl Swackhamer — serve on a committee that has been planning the concerts.

Central Congregational Church was established in 1830 at its current location. Today, the church has about 100 active members, Van Dusen said. An average of about 55 people regularly attend Sunday worship services.

Van Dusen acknowledged that not all visitors who come to the concerts are going to become actively involved in the church.

“But if we can interest a few people and use that as a way to enhance our membership, I think that’s basically the objective,” he said.

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