11/08/2025
LAAGO Hymn Festival: Praise And Thanksgiving
Monday, November 17, 2025 – 8:00 p.m.
First Friends Church
13205 Philadelphia St, Whittier
Social Hour 6:15 p.m. – Dinner 6:45 p.m
Presented by LA Chapter members who live and work in the greater Whittier area, the program will be an
“organ” hymn festival. Each organist will present an organ setting of a hymn that will be followed by the singing of
that hymn. Participants have mostly chosen a setting written or published in the 21st Century.
Organists will include Ty Woodward, Edward Sywulka, Eric Nelson, Kevin McKelvie, Phil Smith and
Russ Litchfield.
The program includes music by James Biery, Emma Lou Diemer, Paul Fey, Brenda Portman, Sir George Shearing, and Wayne Wold. Hymn tunes include: Christe Sanctorum, New Britain, Grosser Gott, CWM Rhondda, Rendez À Dieu and Nun Danket Alle Gott.
Chorale Bel Canto, led by Linda Brown, Music Director, will present a choral piece written by our member, Neil Stipp, that won the 2010 AGO/ECS PUBLISHING Award in
Choral Composition, May Your Life Be Filled with Gladness.
The organ was built by David Harris, 4/54 (1976) with an eclectic specification inspired by French organs.
Manuel Rosales will give a presentation at dinner about organ builder David Harris and his career.
First Friends Church, A Quaker Meeting, is at the corner of Philadelphia St. and Washington Ave. in Uptown
Whittier.
From the 605 freeway, exit Whittier Blvd and travel east to Philadelphia St. Turn left and continue to the
church.
A parking lot may be accessed from the alley immediately east of the church building. There is also street
parking in the area.
