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Michael J. Coppola, a multifaceted performer and Senior at Ross School, joins us at The Church for a special one-of-a-kind evening of songs and stories designed to delight, inspire, and lift our spirits. Melodies with Michael is an intimate concert that journeys through a range of musical styles, from beloved musical theater classics to contemporary pop favorites. Hear favorites like “Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and “Somewhere” from West Side Story and more! Featuring a curated selection of songs and artists that have shaped his voice and passion, Michael invites the audience into his world, sharing not only the music he loves, but the personal experiences and artistic growth behind it. Michael is joined by collaborative pianist Amanda Jones.
From a duet with Kristen Chenowith to a solo performance at the Birdland Jazz Club, Coppola’s budding career is beyond impressive and speaks to his commitment to his craft. Join us as we extend a warm The Church welcome to an incredible member of the East End and continue our celebration of creativity and community.
Experience the beauty of Daniel Lauter’s musical phrasing, melody, and harmonic balance this Mother’s Day with a sound bath designed to relax and rejuvenate. The much-loved MeditationDJ returns for another deeply relaxing journey through sound and scent. Each participant will receive a complimentary sachet of Lavender and Rose.
Bring your yoga mat, pillow, blanket, and/or anything else you may need for comfort as you bathe in the meditative tones that melt stress away. Enjoy the sounds of hand-selected, crystal
bowls, symphonic gong, Himalayan bells, bansuri, shruti, tongue drum, Yidaki (didjeridu), rain sticks, ocarina, with vocal toning, healing mantras, and other objects d'sound!
The Reflections in Music series, led by artistic director Bruce Wolosoff, returns for a program that considers the ‘Opus One’ – the first published work by a composer. From Beethoven’s assured early chamber writing and Paganini’s brilliant self-portrait as a violin virtuoso, to Rachmaninoff’s expansive lyricism and Alban Berg’s late-Romantic intensity breaking through into modernism, each work performed in this invigorating concert reveals a composer defining a public voice. Wolosoff will play piano and introduce music with his signature spoken commentary, joined by violinists Max Tan and Deborah Buck, and cellist Amy Barston.
“An ‘opus one’ is a moment of arrival, when a composer steps forward and declares ‘this is who I am,” according to Wolosoff. The program also includes first published works by Bach and Vivaldi, as well as Wolosoff’s own Opus One, the piano trio Bodhisattva. The Washington Post wrote that the work, “Drawing on the starkness of Beethoven’s late quartet language and the sorrowful language of the blues, is a moving, well-crafted piece that offers accessibility without being simple-minded.”
The moment you have been waiting for is her! The Church is thrilled to announce our inspirational annual tradition returns: a benefit event that is easy on the speeches and heavy on the brilliance. Showcasing yet another exceptional performer, this year’s Summer Dinner Theater benefit welcomes Martha Wainwright to the stage in her only area performance this summer!
Joining the likes of Candace Bushnell (2023), Martin Short (2024), and Laurie Anderson (2025), Wainwright has been invited due to her outstanding, heartful yet entertaining, command of song and stage. “We are thrilled that Martha is headlining this year’s benefit – our first to feature a musical act. Our summer benefit helps fund a broad range of our commitments to art and community, and she perfectly embodies inspirational levels of creativity, vision, and execution.”
Born into music royalty, the daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon
Wainwright III and sister to the highly acclaimed, genre defying singer Rufus Wainwright, Martha grew up in a world filled with incomparable musical legends Anna McGarrigle, Leonard Cohen, Suzzy Roche, Richard and Linda Thompson, Emmylou Harris and struggled to find her voice in a milieu in which every drama was refracted through song. Then, in 2005, she released her critically acclaimed debut album, Martha Wainwright, which containing the blistering hit which the Sunday Times called one of the best songs of the year. That release, and the albums that followed, such as Come Home to Mama and I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, showcased Martha’s searing songwriting style and established her as a powerful voice to be reckoned with.
AND THAT’S NOT ALL…
New this year: we’ve added a COCKTAIL HOUR ONLY ticket for those wishing to contribute the community love of the event, which includes another fantastic performer: Inda Eaton! The beloved, East End-based singer-songwriter will appear live for a set during our cocktail hour. Sorry - cocktail hour tickets do not provide access to the Wainwright performance. However, ticket holders for the dinner theater receive access to both the Inda Eaton cocktail hour and the Martha Wainwright headlining performance!
All proceeds benefit our year-round exhibitions, programming, and artist residency, making The Church a vital source for inspiring