At Lutheran Church of Honolulu we believe the arts hold a special place in our community. In the fall of 2019 Scott Fikse launched the First Mondays Concert Series to create more opportunities for local musicians perform, program outstanding works of the chamber repertoire that do not get performed frequently, and establish LCH as a hub for music in the community. Offered in the superb acoustics of the LCH nave, these concerts have provided enjoyment for the entire community ever since.
Concerts are offered on the first Monday of each month (with some exceptions for holidays) beginning at 6:15 pm with pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard and continuing with the concert in the Nave at 7:00 pm. Concerts are free and supported by a suggested donation of $20 at the door and the contributions from donors, including the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation.
In support of the larger community, we continue to collect packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g., cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned food donations for the Angel Network (a private, non-profit organization serving O‘ahu’s homeless and at-risk families as a foodbank) at each concert.
OUR NEXT CONCERT: Kolida: A Celebration of Ukrainian Music and Food on January 6—Join us for a heartfelt celebration of Ukrainian culture, where we honor our Ukrainian brothers and sisters through the timeless beauty of traditional Ukrainian kolida (carols). This special evening features a string quartet performance of beloved Ukrainian melodies, paired with authentic dishes that showcase the rich flavors of Ukraine. Come together in community to support, celebrate, and connect through music and food.
2024–2025 Season Program
| September 9, 2024 • 7:00 pm | Summer’s Last Serenade: An Evening of Romantic Music for Winds We kick off the 2024–2025 season of First Monday Concerts with a delightful evening of music for winds plus cello and bass. Join us for luscious Romantic music featuring Charles Gounod’s Petite Symphonie and Antonin Dvořák’s Serenade for Wind Instruments. |
| October 7, 2024 • 7:00 pm | Mele Monday featuring Ei Nei Continuing with the tradition of celebrating the music of Hawaiʻi, we feature local favorite artist Ei Nei. Composed of Dane Fujiwara, Grant Kono, and ‘Ekolu Chang, this Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner will bring to us their unique blend of their sonorous voices combined with rich harmonies. Ei Nei will guide us on a captivating journey through the timeless melodies of traditional music while offering a fresh perspective on its future. |
| November 4, 2024 • 7:00 pm | Tubular Telemann Philip Gottling will wow us with his expert recorder playing, joined by Julia Richter on flute and accompanied by harpsichord and string quartet. You will be charmed by the joyous music of Telemann. |
| December 9, 2024 • 7:00 pm | Festival of Carols in Brass—Re-Imagined Bringing back your favorite Christmas album with some fun surprises! Ring in the holiday season with A Festival of Carols in Brass—Re-Imagined. |
| January 6, 2025 • 7:00 pm | Kolida: A Celebration of Ukrainian Music and Food Join us for a heartfelt celebration of Ukrainian culture, where we honor our Ukrainian brothers and sisters through the timeless beauty of traditional Ukrainian kolida (carols). This special evening features a string quartet performance of beloved Ukrainian melodies, paired with authentic dishes that showcase the rich flavors of Ukraine. Come together in community to support, celebrate, and connect through music and food. |
| February 3, 2025 • 7:00 pm | Organ Highlights Enjoy the robust sounds of the Beckerath organ. Come celebrate the 50th anniversary year of the organ at Lutheran Church of Honolulu by joining us for this exciting program to be offered by our own Dr. Barry Wenger. |
| March 3, 2025 • 7:00 pm | Four Seasons Welcome spring with the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi. Darel Stark will lead an orchestra for this 300th-anniversary performance with a narration of the sonnets upon which this work is based. |
| April 7, 2025 • 7:00 pm | Timeless Trios for Clarinet and Strings Join us for an evening of exquisite music featuring the captivating clarinetist Adam Ebert and accompanied by the harmonious sounds of the viola, cello, and piano. This program including Brahms and Mozart trios will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of classical and romantic music, highlighting the beauty and versatility of each instrument. |
| May 5, 2025 • 7:00 pm | May Day is Lei Day We are delighted to present this special concert in celebration of Lei Day, a tradition that began in 1928 to honor the custom of giving and receiving le,. Lei Day embodies the spirit of aloha, with each lei representing the heartfelt connection between giver and receiver. The creation of a lei—through the gathering of materials, preparation, and weaving—is infused with the mana, or spirit, of its maker. |
2023–2024 Season Program 2022–2023 Season Program 2021–2022 Season Program 2020–2021 Season Program 2019–2020 Season Program
Help Make “First Mondays” a Success by Becoming a Sponsor
Your tax-deductible donations make it possible for us to offer these free concerts to the community. Please consider a donation by sending a check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, or using the button below to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.