KENNEBUNKPORT—The First Congregational Church of Kennebunkport is pleased to continue to provide to the public its “Second Sunday Concert Series” in the New Year.

The first concert of 2017 will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8th in the church sanctuary and the church’s music director, Joyce Painter Rice, has announced that two very talented musicians will perform.

These performers are Frederick A. MacArthur, an organist, and tenor Neal Ferreira.

MacArthur is the organist at All Saints Parish in Haverhill, Massachusetts and at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He is the accompanist for Chorus North Shore in Ipswich and is in demand in greater Boston as recitalist and freelance accompanist. He has held numerous positions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and has performed throughout the U.S., Italy, Germany, & Israel. He also represented the United States four times in the International Organ Festival in Morelia, Mexico.

MacArthur majored in church music and organ at Boston University where he studied with George Faxon.

Tenor Neal Ferreira is praised for his “rich, powerful voice” and “bravura-filled stage presence.”

Ferreira is a promising lyric tenor with a handsome, masculine tone quality to which he brings a cultivated vocalism and eloquent expression. Performing professionally for over a decade in opera and oratorio, the tenor was the recipient of the 2012-13 Artist Of The Year Award from Syracuse Opera.

He has also appeared with Florida Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Virginia Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Boston, American Repertory Theatre, Boston Midsummer Opera, and Guerilla Opera. He is a regular guest soloist at his alma mater, Providence College.

Ferreira also earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, graduating with Academic Honors in 2005, where he studied with opera singer Patricia Craig.

The “Second Sunday Concert Series” is open to the public and is free, but contributions are welcome.

If contributions are given by check they may be made to First Congregational Church, (and on the memo line: “Organ Restoration Fund”).

A capital campaign is underway to restore the church’s 1854 “E. & G. G. Hook” organ, originally built for South Congregational Church and given to First Church in 1916. The organ is a significant part of Kennebunkport history and it is in nearly original condition. First Church is actively soliciting community support for its restoration.

In addition to concerts and other events, the Rev. Paula Norbert and First Church members welcome everyone to attend the weekly Sunday church service which begins at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday.

All are welcome at First Church.

First Congregational Church is at 141 North St. in Kennebunkport, just 1.5 miles south of the Seacoast Trolley Museum where Log Cabin Road becomes North Street. The church is next to Arundel Cemetery, and near Wink’s Store and the Kennebunkport Historical Society.

Directions from Kennebunkport’s Dock Square are Spring Street to a left on Maine Street, bear right on North Street and follow North Street to First Congregational Church on the right.

For more information, call the church office on Tuesdays at 967-3897 or send an email to joyceorganist@aol.com.

Further information is available at www.firstchurchkport.org, where vistors can listen to two performances on the church’s Hook organ by Music Director Rice including “Be Thou My Vision” and “Be Still My Soul.”