Highland Performing Arts
The Highland Performing Arts Series invites the community to experience a variety of musical performances, building on a local legacy that blends tradition with a new vision. With a lineup that spans genres and generations, our program promises an inspiring mosaic of live music for audiences of all ages.
Highland Performing Arts Series
The Highland Performing Arts Series was created to present musical concerts and events featuring local, national, and international artists, while providing enriching experiences for both the Highland congregation and the surrounding community. The series represents the merging of two long-standing traditions at Highland Presbyterian Church.
The Dorothy Rose Smith Concert Series, founded in 1999, commemorated the church’s acquisition of its Wicks Pipe Organ and honored Dorothy Smith’s 29 years as Director of Music. This series brought outstanding organists and ensembles to Highland and regularly featured the church’s own Chancel Choir in large-scale works.
The Lemonade Concerts, born out of the Lancaster Opera Workshop in the mid-1970s, offered a relaxed and community-focused summer program showcasing local talent and emerging performers.
In 2024, these two beloved traditions were unified under the Highland Performing Arts Series banner. A newly expanded committee, including members from both previous series and the broader church community, now oversees a year-round program designed to preserve the artistic integrity of the past while embracing new audiences and diverse performances.
Cat’s Pajamas
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
The Cat’s Pajamas are an old-school jazz band featuring the classic sounds of New Orleans and Chicago with a side of Blues and Dixieland. They specialize in retrofitting modern hits from Wham! to Guns N’ Roses and Justin Timberlake. The Cat’s Pajamas love to have fun on stage and share it with an audience.
Highland Chancel Choir and Orchestra
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Composed by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, The Armed Man is dedicated to victims of the war in Kosovo, Yugoslavia in the late 1990s. It tells of the horrors of war, but ends with the hope for peace. Under the direction of Dr. Paul Thorlakson, the Highland Chancel Choir and Orchestra features church members and local guest musicians.
Reji Woods and Company: Music of Broadway
Wednesday, June 10 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Reji has performed throughout the United States and in Paris, Amsterdam, and India! He has also enjoyed an extensive acting career Broadway/Off Broadway and at Sight & Sound Theatres in Lancaster, where he has performed in stage recordings of Jonah, Noah, Moses, and Voices of Christmas.
Final Boss Big Band
Wednesday, July 8 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Final Boss Big Band is an 18-piece jazz ensemble that transforms legendary video game soundtracks into high-octane jazz. Music from games like Mario Bros., Zelda, Pokémon, Cuphead, Final Fantasy and more are reloaded with bold brass and virtuosic solos. Final Boss Big Band was formed in 2024 by professional jazz musician Kyle Kratzer. With custom arrangements and new premieres at every concert, the group creates an experience that thrills both jazz fans and gamers alike.
Lancaster British Brass Band
Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Lancaster British Brass Band is a 31-piece ensemble drawing musicians from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Founded with a commitment to professional-level performance, the band features accomplished soloists, ensemble players, and music educators. The band is led by Dr. Tina DiMeglio, an accomplished conductor, clarinetist, and educator.
Marcos Krieger, Organist
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Marcos Krieger is an accomplished organist and harpsichordist. His main repertoire consists of Renaissance and Baroque Music from Spain, Italy, and Germany. A citizen of Germany and of Brazil, Dr. Krieger received his musical education in Brazil and in Germany, and completed graduate degrees at Brigham Young University and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Dr. Krieger has performed solo recitals in North and South America, as well as in Germany, Austria, Spain, and Italy.
Silver, Wood, & Ivory
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
Silver, wood, and ivory are three creations of beauty found in nature. When you add the musical inspirations of Tracy Dietrich and Cindy Wittenberg, “Silver, Wood, & Ivory” transform into a celestial musical journey. Together, this two-person orchestra of classically trained artists have fashioned a tapestry of music that stirs the soul. Whether it’s a familiar song that causes memories to come flooding back or a new melody that creates a sense of calm, they have developed a body of work that will satisfy everyone’s melodic appetite.
Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster
Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 7:00 PM | HPC Sanctuary
The Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster is a community choral arts program serving more than 150 children and youth in kindergarten through grade 12. Representing nearly 55 congregations, 45 schools, and 12 denominations, singers develop a rich musical repertoire from around the world and across time while being equipped for a lifetime of service to the church and community. The mission of MCCL is training children and youth to glorify Jesus Christ through excellent choral singing.