The Old Church
Alive and Well
By Daniel J. Curran
The Old Church is back.
“The Old Church closed on March 11, 2020, and reopened to the public on September 4, 2021,” says Amanda Stark, Director.
Historical. Musical. Committed.
“TOC is becoming one of the nation’s top unique intimate listening rooms with state-of-the-art acoustics and sound, once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences for fans; all with the emphasis on building up and connecting the community around us,” says Stark.
Upon entrance, The Old Church staff welcomes you warmly. The welcoming envelopes you with thankfulness and gratitude that they’re back and you’re back as part of the Portland urban artistic and musical community at large. Smiles surface upon entrance with the splendor and colors TOC venue and stage radiate. The physical environment leans on breathtaking. The inspirational gift is a personal affair many patrons have with The Old Church, built-in 1882. The artistic vibe of the building is rich. The shows start on time.
“We strive to create concert experiences that will send people out into the world with a more acute sense of human togetherness and an invigorated appreciation of the magic we’re all capable of creating,” says Stark.
The Old Church plays by the rules regarding safety protocols.
- Proof of vaccination and pictured identification at the door or evidence of a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of the event is needed for events.
- Everyone has to wear a mask while in the building.
Additionally, The Old Church has also installed a Covid certified air filter system. Freshness prevails here.
The TOC Concert Hall is a superb performance venue with state-of-the-art sound, acoustic, and lighting systems with seating for 300 with an adjacent reception area with a bar serving wine and beer. The venue’s pew seating envelops the stage, creating an intimate concert venue for performers and audience members alike. TOC shows cater to its many enhancements, thus creating a memorable live show experience.
“I’m trying to bridge the gap between human beings. Even briefly, we can achieve heaven on earth when that happens. The world needs love and art, lots of art,” says Emily Overstreet, TOC Director of Bookings.
The month of December is proving to be an active one, with a plethora of musical genres available for sale to suit the varied musical tastes of the Portland community:
- 12/02 – Merry Christmas from Jose James.
- 12/03 & 12/04 A Celtic Christmas with The Gothard Sisters.
- 12/05 – Flamenco guitarist Antonio Rey.
- 12/07 – The Moth StorySlam
- 12/08 – Jazzmeia Horn
- 12/09 – Matt Alber, Jon Garcia album release.
- 12-10 to 12/27 – Michael Allen Harrison Christmas Show.
- 12/28 – Dearest Eva movie premier.
For more than 50 years, TOC has gifted the Portland community with free concerts, The Lunchtime Concert series on Wednesdays at noon. The LCS for the 2021-2022 season are live-streamed and broadcast only. The shows can be seen on the YouTube channel, YouTube.com/oldchurchpdx)
The lunchtime concerts are also available on Cable TV Sundays at 9:00 pm, Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, and Saturdays at 3:00 pm on Comcast Channel 11 or 331.
The December 2021 Lunchtime concerts are as follows:
- 12/01 – Composer and concert pianist Diane Davies performs selected pieces from Romantic Christmas Suite Vol 1. This arrangement is an amalgam of selected Chopin Nocturnes melded with gems from traditional Christmas carols.
- 12/08 – David Rothman, concert pianist, and Michael Barnes, playing the organ as an orchestra, perform Mozart Concerto KV 414 in A significant and other solo piano works.
- 12/15 – Portland-based Cello Jam, Quinn Liu, and Deborah Shuster perform cello duets by Vivaldi, Wenzel, Shostakovich, Menotti, Handel, and more. Joining them is pianist Gayle Armstrong.
- 12/22 – Michael Barnes, senior organist of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Temple Beth Israel, will play a holiday concert on the historic 1883 Hook & Hastings tracker organ.
TOC adapts to many public and private functions, including concerts, parties, memorials, lectures, film, and photography. Wedding bookings are suspended indefinitely due to complications with being closed due to Covid-19.
“Reopening has proven to be even more challenging than being closed. We require more staff than ever to provide additional security and to maintain our strict policy of vaccination or negative test for all audience members and performers,” says Constance Bracewell, President.
Check the TOC website for available showtimes and ticket costs for live shows at https://www.theoldchurch.org and their Facebook page.
TOC is a Portland treasure.
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