The Annual Lenten Recitals will once again be held at the First United Presbyterian Church at 19 W. Fourth Street in Dunkirk beginning today at noon. These recitals will feature local musicians affiliated with SUNY Fredonia. Don Fellows, Director of Music Emeritus of Saint Paul R.C. Cathedral, Pittsburgh, will perform an All-Bach Recital today. Fellows recently retired from the Cathedral where he served as Organist and Director of Music from 1999-2021. He joined the faculty of the Department of Music of the University of Pittsburgh as adjunct organ instructor, serving from 2005-2021. Previously, he has served St. Mary Cathedral, Ogdensburg; Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago; St. Joseph Cathedral, Buffalo; Holy Trinity Church, Dunkirk; and Grace Lutheran Church, Dunkirk. A Glen Cove native, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1980 and Master of Music degree in 1987, both from SUNY Fredonia.

Jonah Albert is a senior at SUNY Fredonia studying cello with Dr. Natasha Farny, and will present an All-Bach Recital as well on Wednesday, April 2 at the church. A native of Nashville, Tenn., Albert has appeared as principal cellist with the College Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, as well as playing for the Hillman Opera and a student ensemble, the Cardinal Quartet, all at SUNY Fredonia. Outside of the college, he has performed with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Warren Philharmonic, and the Presque Isle ProMusica, with plans to continue pursuing Cello Performance in the future. Virginia M. Miller is a lifetime resident of the East Town of Dunkirk and studied Piano and Voice at SUNY Fredonia. She is an Early Childhood Educator and has been with the Lake Shore Family Center in Irving for the last 35 years in the capacity of Preschool Teacher, Program Coordinator, and Assistant Director, and has been the Director of the facility since 2020.

She is the Chautauqua County Chair for ‘The Month of the Young Child’ and sits on the Programs and Services Committee of the NYS Association for the Education of Young Children as well as the Chautauqua County AEYC, and is also on the Board of the Labyrinthine Ways Peace Park. Virginia also takes joy in providing music for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Blessed Mary Angela R.C. parishes in Dunkirk, as well as at FUPC Dunkirk. She also teaches private piano lessons to children as well as Music & Movement classes, and considers making music and praising the Lord through song both a great privilege and a great joy. A soprano, Virginia will be singing a vocal recital of various Lenten songs on Wednesday, April 9, and will be accompanied on piano by Dr. Linda Phillips, Piano Professor Emeritus at SUNY Fredonia.

These Lenten Recitals are sponsored by the FUPC Dunkirk Worship & Music Committee, will be performed on the three Wednesdays listed at noon and are free and open to the general public.