At Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 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 the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and other donors in the LCH ‘ohana. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of First Monday Concerts, please see the information at the bottom of this page.
Beginning this year, our First Mondays Concert Series will operate under the “Music in Mission” model. With the cost of concerts covered by our generous sponsors, all donations by those attending each month’s concert will go to a valuable non-profit organization on O‘ahu. If you cannot attend a concert and wish to donate to that month’s beneficiary, use the PayPal button on this page.
ln 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.
NEXT CONCERT: Bach to Hymns: A Festival of Hymns through the Ages (November 3)—Join the LCH Choir as they sing their favorite hymns from every season of the church year. Audience participation encouraged as we raise our voices in song. The concert culminates in Johann Sebastian Bach’s wonderful setting of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Cantata No. 137, with orchestra and soloists.
2025–2026 Season Program
| September 8 • 7:00 pm | Royal Hawaiian Band Join us on the eve of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s 125th anniversary! The Royal Hawaiian Band will kick off our celebration, honoring Bandmaster Henry Berger (1871–1915), who was also the first organist and a charter member of LCH. (Donations for this concert will benefit Angel Network Charities.) |
| October 6 • 7:00 pm | Vibin’ with Vivaldi Bringing Vivaldi’s Venice to life, Phil Gottling (recorder) and Julia Richter (flute) groove with the fire and flair of Vivaldi’s recorder concerti. Joined by Michelle Kim and Rachel Saul Schifino (violins), Youn Joo Lee (oboe), Tommy Morrison (bassoon), Sung Chan Chang (cello), and Ju-Hua Wei (harpsichord), they deliver the virtuosic and elegant music of the Red Priest. (Donations for this concert will benefit Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction (H3RC).) |
| November 3 • 7:00 pm | Bach to Hymns: A Festival of Hymns through the Ages Join the LCH Choir as they sing their favorite hymns from every season of the church year. Audience participation encouraged as we raise our voices in song. The concert culminates in Johann Sebastian Bach’s wonderful setting of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Cantata No. 137, with orchestra and soloists. |
| December 1 • 7:00 pm | Festival of Carols in Brass Bringing back your favorite Christmas album with some fun surprises! Ring in the holiday season with A Festival of Carols in Brass—Re-imagined. (Donations for this concert will benefit One Pot, One Hope, a ministry of the Hukilau Conference.) |
| January 5 • 7:00 pm | Amahl and the Night Visitors Epiphany on January 6 celebrates the arrival of the Magi and marks the end of the Christmas season. Celebrate with us through Gian Carlo Menotti’s famous one-act opera telling the story of the Three Kings’ journey following the star. (Donations for this concert will benefit Hawai‘i Youth Opera Chorus.) |
| February • 7:00 pm | 50 & Beyond: The Romance of the Organ Enjoy the music of Brahms, Mendelssohn, and even Ella Fitzgerald as Dr. Barry J. Wenger musically leads us into the month of love! Bring your special someone and join us for an evening of romantic music. “Romance in notes, not words or glance, the organ speaks to us through resonance. |
| March 2 • 7:00 pm | Our Musical Journey Get to know local favorites Leslie Goldman (soprano), Sarah Lambert Connelly (mezzo-soprano), and Sadee Xu (piano) as they share music that shaped their artistic journeys. Featuring solos and duets by Monteverdi, Mozart, Schubert, Massenet, Puccini, and more! (Donations for this concert will benefit Hawai‘i Music Teachers Association (HMTA).) |
| April 13 • 7:00 pm | Between Light and Shadows This program explores the rich musical connection between mentor and protégé through the depth and contrast of their works. Dvořák’s Terzetto for two violins and viola offers a lighthearted, folk-inspired charm—a graceful counterbalance to the stormy intensity of Brahms’s iconic Piano Quintet in F minor, a work that delves into the shadowed corners of his soul. (Donations for this concert will benefit UH Mānoa LGBTQ+ Center.) |
| May 4 • 7:00 pm | May Day Is Lei Day 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. Join us for this concert, the culmination of a weekend of cultural events! (Donations for this concert will benefit East-West Center.) |
2024–2025 Season Program 2023–2024 Season Program 2022–2023 Season Program 2021–2022 Season Program 2020–2021 Season Program 2019–2020 Season Program
Support “First Mondays” by Becoming a Sponsor
The Lutheran Church of Honolulu is able to bring you these concerts because of the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and other donors in the LCH ‘ohana. You can become one of these generous sponsors by making a tax-deductible donation. Mail your check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822 or use the button below to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.