The Lamar Louise Curry Concert Series seeks to present captivating music in a beautiful space to the people of South Florida.  This ministry of First United Methodist Church Coral Gables is designed to provide a vital community outreach that enriches the lives of all ages— spiritually, culturally, and educationally—through music!

The Miami Sousa Band: Salute to Veterans

Seth M. Carlson, Conductor

November 10, 2024 • 4:00pm

The Miami Sousa Band returns to open the 2024-2025 Lamar Louise Curry Concert Series with a dazzling and uplifting Veteran’s Day Concert to honor those who have served our country in the United States Armed Forces. Enjoy patriotic favorites, such as The Stars and Stripes Forever, alongside other classical works, virtuosic solos, novelties, and marches in a fast-paced, Sousa-style performance. This meaningful and exuberant concert is not to be missed!

Christmas at FUMC:
Tim Zimmerman and The King's Brass

December 7, 2024 • 7:30 PM

Ring in the Christmas season with beautiful carols and more from The King's Brass! For more than twenty years The King’s Brass have performed over one hundred concerts each season with three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, keyboards, and percussion. Playing a wide variety of music from Gabrieli to hymn classics, from Handel to jazz spirituals, from Christmas carols to patriotic marches, The King’s Brass uses all corners of the concert hall to lift hearts and spirits in praise. They provide innovative worship for young and old alike through the “best in sacred brass music.” 

Thomas Pandolfi, Concert Pianist

with The First Coral Gables Chamber Ensemble

January 24, 2025 • 7:30 PM

World-renowned pianist Thomas Pandolfi returns to the Lamar Louise Curry Concert Series to present an arresting program of American music: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F. Pandolfi began his career early on while at The Juilliard School (BM & MM). Since then he has been an audience favorite, selling out the world’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Strathmore, The Kennedy Center, Kiev Opera House, Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum, London’s Cadogan Hall, and many others. We are delighted to welcome him back to Coral Gables for this special performance with The First Coral Gables Chamber Ensemble.

In addition to being recognized as one of the greatest interpreters of the Polish masters such as Chopin, Paderewski, and Godowsky, this versatile pianist has received accolades from everything from Bach to Gershwin, with Morton Gould saying, “It’s the finest performance of Gershwin I have heard since the composer himself.” His original and virtuosic transcriptions of popular works, such as West Side Story and Phantom of the Opera, are one-of-kind, jaw-dropping, and dramatic encores that keep audiences of all ages returning to his performances again and again.

Mr. Pandolfi is a Steinway Artist and will begin recording for Steinway Spirio later this year. Mr. Pandolfi’s performances have been broadcast by PBS, WETA (Washington, DC), WQXR (NYC), WRCJ (Detroit), DCN TV (China), The Sound (DC), and many others worldwide.

Organized Rhythm:
Clive Driskill-Smith, Organist &
Joseph Gramley, Percussionist

April 4, 2025 • 7:30 PM

Trumpet and organ: it’s been done before. Flute and organ: it’s been done before. But the “symphonic-orchestral” pairing of organ and percussion remains a rarity, making Organized Rhythm the only full-time duo of its kind anywhere in the world. Clive and Joseph take every opportunity to deeply explore the lyrical and powerful tonal aspects of thunderous and dulcet wood and metal organ pipes married to the visceral, arresting, and delicate aspects of a wide array of percussion instruments from around the world through a collection of new works as well as transcriptions of recognizable classical compositions. Their repertoire spans from the music of J.S. Bach and Camille Saint-Saens to that of Aaron Copland, John Williams and celebrated and innovative 21st century composer Nico Muhly, with the duo’s adaptation of Gustav Holst’s The Planets being their signature, and most frequently requested, performance piece. Hear the First Coral Gables organ, a glorious 71-rank Schantz, showcased in this engaging, innovative concert!

First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables
536 Coral Way
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 445-2578

Support the Concert Series

The Lamar Louise Curry Concert Series would not be possible without the financial generosity of many individuals. We are currently seeking underwriters for the 2024-25 series at three levels:

• Bronze (up to $99)

• Silver ($100-499)

• Gold ($500-$1,000)

Please contact Seth Carlson, Music Director, if you are moved to support reaching out to our community through our music ministry. Thank you!