29 January.  We celebrated John Harbison‘s 80th birthday in our Parish Hall with some of his jazz songs, a piece composed by Michael Gandolfi with libretto of Lloyd Schwartz‘ selections from John’s recently published book What Do We Make of Bach, and a tower of cupcakes wheeled in by Pat Krol, Executive Director of Emmanuel Music.

John Harbison at the piano provided by M. Steinert & Sons with Don Berman, Lynn Torgove, Pat Krol, and singers of Emmanuel Music.

• Thanks to a generous grant from the City of Boston’s Community Preservation, Commission restoration work on our Newbury St. façade began under the direction of Vestry member Peter K. Johnson.  The multi-year project involved repair and refinishing of five sets of doors with their tympana, masonry work for our central entrance and several staircases, and roof work to prevent ice dams.
  

  The Rev. Tamra Tucker with our rector, deacon, and parishioners who attended her ordination at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

• Tamra Tucker was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. She had been parish administrator when Penny Lane (on her right) was senior warden (2013-15). Also pictured are (left to right):  Pat Krol, Paul Guttry, Peter and Margaret Johnson, Joy Howard, Pam Werntzm Bob Greiner, Jenn Poole & Liz Levin.

• Pendragon Press published Bringing Bach’s Music to Life, a compilation of Craig Smith‘s program notes for 24 cantatas, edited by Pamela Dellal, in its series of Monographs in Musicology.
  

  Craig Smith directing the orchestra with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson on viola; Don Wilkinson, Paul Guttry et al. in the chorus.