The OPUS 50
Parsons Pipe Organ
Three Manuals, 57 Stops, 51 Ranks
FIRSt lutheran Church
Music Arts Series
Music is an integral part of First Lutheran Church and its mission.
Our redesigned sanctuary offers excellent acoustics.
Our congregation has been blessed with several fine instruments: the Opus 50 Pipe Organ, by Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua, NY; two newly refurbished grand pianos by Premier Pianos of Walker, IA; and a refurbished harpsichord.
Through this concert series we will be able to share the gift of music and these instruments with the community. It is our hope that these concerts and events will bring inspiration and joy throughout the year.
Dr. Gregory Hand,
Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 - 3p
Download the Concert Program Soon
Come together for our first concert event of 2026; the Annual Organists of Iowa Concert that features top organists from Iowa colleges and Universities. This years' installment will take place on Sunday, February 1 at 3 p.m. and will feature Dr. Gregory Hand, professor of Organ at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Dr. Hand is in high-demand as both an instructor and performer. He has given recitals and masterclasses in the United States, France, Spain, Germany and Brazil, and served on the jury for national and international organ competitions. The concert is free and open to the public. A reception and refreshments will follow the performance.
Remaining 2026 Concert Dates!
Mark your calendars for the amazing music to come!
Spring Serenades
Wednesdays,
Feb. 25, Mar. 11 & 25, 2026,
at 12:30 p.m.
Celebrate the budding
of Spring with our series of mini concerts by the Music Faculty of Coe College
Sing Out! Hymn Festival
Gaze in Amazement
Sunday, April 19, 2026,
at 3:00 p.m.
led by Dr. Jeffrey Blersch
Concordia University, Seward, NE including a mass choir from area ELCA congregations.
Pipes, Pedals & Pie
Summer Concert Series
Tuesdays, June 9, July 14, & Aug. 11, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Enjoy a summer evening concert from regional musicians followed by
a pie & ice cream social!
— Concerts —
A Summary of our Annual Concert Events:
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The Wolgasts
in Concert
This annual fall event features
Brett and Marita Wolgast, members of First Lutheran's staff for over 30 years.Lunch in the Loft
Music for the Seasons
Midday Wednesday concerts of holiday music in December performed by organists and musicians from the Cedar Rapids community.
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Organists of lowa
This annual concert features an organist from one of Iowa's colleges and universities.
Spring Serenades
In March, area college music faculty will present mini concerts on Wednesdays at noon.Sing Out!
A Hymn Festival
This late-spring event performed by various choirs and instrumentalists of First Lutheran Church with inspirational words and songs.Type the content for this list item here. This is just example text to show you what it will look like when you enter text content into this list item. Your unique, authentic, and appropriate text will be filled into this section. Once you click into this text area, you will see the filler text disappear.
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Pipes, Pedals & Pie
Monthly summer concerts feature church organists and other musicians from the Eastern Iowa corridor followed by an "old-fashioned" pie & ice cream social.
Great American Organists
Biennial concerts presented by America's renowned concert organists on the Parsons Opus 50 Pipe Organ.Type the content for this list item here. This is just example text to show you what it will look like when you enter text content into this list item. Your unique, authentic, and appropriate text will be filled into this section. Once you click into this text area, you will see the filler text disappear.
— Support the Series —
Your donation will be used for musicians’ honorariums and accommodations, concert series publicity and food. Our goal is for this Musical Arts Series to be sustainable annually, through voluntary contributions, with free admission made available to all concert attendees.