At the Music on High concert series at Christ Lutheran Church, director of music and organist Kevin Gane hopes audiences will enjoy a diverse array of performances that redefine what "classical music" is.

"Sometimes, people think of the world of classical music as this high-brow world, where only certain people are inclined to go and experience it," he said. "But this season is a great, low-cost, low-stakes way to come in and experience beautiful music in our beautiful space here at Christ Lutheran."

And by "low-cost," he means free. There is no charge to attend any of the concerts, but a freewill offering will be received.

The series will kick off with a performance by Meghan Davis and Alex Keller on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 4 p.m. The concert will feature harpist and vocalist Davis joined by Keller on cello for a program that includes both classical and contemporary music. Davis is known for her unique ability to sing while playing the harp.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, an Advent Lessons and Carols program will take place at 4 p.m. The service will move through Scripture and song in the traditional way established at King's College in Cambridge. The church's choir, congregation and organ will tell the story, with youth readers accompanying the program of music ranging from ancient chants to contemporary choral pieces.

Christmas at the Christ Lutheran Organ will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, as part of Christ Lutheran's New Year's Eve celebration. It will feature a congregational carol sing at the church's 1949 Moller organ.

Gane himself will be in the spotlight for a piano concert called "Terrain: A Landscape in Five Movements" on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, at 4 p.m. This solo piano performance will be built around five landscapes, with baroque, classical and contemporary pieces.

"This concert will have a visual arts aspect to it," Gane said. "People will not only hear the music, but they'll also see paintings and photographs that evoke the different landscapes of the world."

On Sunday, April 18, 2027, Trio Jolie will present a chamber concert at 4 p.m. Oboist Kirstin Myers, cellist Crystal Jordan and flutist Robin Lilarose will perform a repertoire ranging across classical and contemporary chamber literature.

The Music on High series will wrap up on Tuesday, May 18, 2027, at 6 p.m., with the Christ Lutheran Church choir presenting "Memories, Shadows, Light." Built around Franz Schubert's "Deutsche Messe," the concert will take audiences on an emotional ride from remembrance through uncertainty toward hope.

Christ Lutheran Church has hosted the Music on High series since 2022. The concerts are supported by the Fetter Living Trust. Raymond Fetter served as pastor at the church from 1947 to 1986. His wife, Teresa, was an occasional organist from 1952 to 1965 and then was both organist and choir director until 1986.

Gane said the performers in this year's Music on High series represent a wider geographic area than just local musicians.

"I wanted to focus on highlighting some artists from outside of the state or from places further away in Pennsylvania," he said. "I do think there is a rich array of talent here, but I really wanted to reach out and bring in some artists from the tri-state area."

The series continues the church's mission of connecting with the community.

"The church has had a long history of great music ministry," Gane shared. "Next to the Word and Scripture, it's always been a huge part of this church's identity, and we wanted to share that with more than the people in our congregation."

He said the concerts typically draw a crowd of anywhere from 80 to 100 people.

"For me personally, music has always been a source of expression and a way to promote culture and learn about different people and different parts of the world," Gane said. "It was important to me to create a series where people can come in and experience that for no cost."

All concerts will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 75 E. High St., Elizabethtown. For more information, visit http://www.christlutheran-etown.com.