KENNEBUNPORT — The First Congregational Church invites you, your family, & friends to attend the fourth in a series of summer concerts to be held in the church at 141 North St., Kennebunkport, at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14. This concert features American composer and organist Carson Cooman.

Joyce Painter Rice, Music Director & Organist, the Rev. Paula Norbert, Pastor, and members are pleased to offer these concerts. All concerts in First Church’s “Monday Night Summer Concert Series” are open to the public free of charge. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

Cooman, who played a recital in First Church’s concert series last August, holds degrees in music from Harvard University & Carnegie Mellon University.

Since 2006, he has held the position of Composer In Residence at The Memorial Church, Harvard University. As an organ recitalist, Cooman specializes in the performance of contemporary music. More than 150 new compositions by more than 100 international composers have been written for him.

In 1854 the renowned E. & G. G. Hook organ company of Boston built the First Church organ. The organ served first in Kennebunkport’s South Church, and it was given to First Church in 1916.

The one-manual historic instrument remains in nearly original condition and truly is a voice from the past. The organ will be restored in 2018.

Cooman’s concert will beautifully showcase the organ, and donations received will benefit the Organ Restoration Fund.

He has made many CD recordings as organist. In addition, his recordings of more than 1,200 additional contemporary organ compositions can be heard freely from his website and on YouTube.

Cooman has composed works in many forms, ranging from solo instrumental pieces to operas, and from orchestral works to hymn tunes. His work has been performed on all six inhabited continents and appears on over forty recordings, including more than twenty complete CDs. His website is www.carsoncooman.com.

In the fall of 2016, Cooman composed a suite of three hymn preludes as a gift to the First Congregational Church. Called “The Kennebunkport Suite”, these arrangements are written specifically for the E. & G. G. Hook organ. The Suite is dedicated to Joyce Painter Rice, the First Church congregation and the Hook organ.

On Sunday, Rice will play this Suite as the Prelude to the 9:30 a.m. service. All are invited to attend this and all services at First Church.

First Congregational Church is 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 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 directions or more information, you may call the church office on Tuesdays at 967-3897. You may also email for more information to joyceorganist@aol.com