M7 resident will perform at church organ recital

LIVE MUSIC

Concert organist Peter Bates, a resident of Mutual 7, will present a Christmas organ recital at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 607 E. 3rd St. (at Atlantic Avenue) in Long Beach, on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m.

The performance will include the use of the church’s magnificent Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ.

Included will be music of J. S. Bach, George Baker, Marcel Dupre, Gerald Near, Max Reger and others. Audience members are also invited to participate in singing carols during the concert.

Bates has been the minister of music and resident organist at Covenant Church since 1997. This annual event is a perennial favorite of members of the congregation and the community at large.

He will be joined by staff soloist Desiree Flores, mezzosoprano, who will help lead the carol singing. There is no admission charge, however, offering plates will be available should audience members want to leave a donation of any amount to the Minister of Music’s Discretionary Fund.

The Covenant sanctuary organ is noted by many of the guests who have played it as one of the finest in the area.

Built in Boston in 1966, its 3,350 pipes include many that were built for the former church structure by the Los Angeles builder Murray Harris in 1910, still in service 113 years later.

Bates has presided at the console of this instrument for over 26 years, placing his indelible mark on Covenant’s organ and music ministry. The congregation keeps the organ in meticulous condition with regular maintenance; and earlier this year the keyboards (known as “manuals” on an organ) were sent out to be completely refurbished. All are welcome to attend, however, those who are unable to attend in-person are welcome to join online as the concert will be live-streamed through the church’s website: www.CovenantLB.org.

Parking is free and located behind the church.

For more information, call the church at 562-437-0958, ext. 130.