Virtuoso marimba, violin, guitars and piano at Church of Beethoven

Marimba virtuoso and contemporary composer Thor Bremer performs with Bowtime Quintet at Church of Beethoven, taking place at Oak Park’s Open Door Theater Sunday, July 19 at 10 a.m.

Bowtime is a new approach to chamber music. With backgrounds in classical, jazz, pop, rock, and more, the musicians of Bowtime bring a diverse approach to music that enhances their ability to impact their audience. Rather than approaching music from one perspective, they embody and embrace multiple perspectives, adding both new dimensions and accessibility to the art form.

See the quintet in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVO9iSmGWkA&spfreload=10

Equally comfortable in the club as the concert hall, the mission of Bowtime is to bring their eclectic brand of pop chamber music to a wide variety of venues and listeners and create music worth listening to.

Bowtime is currently working on their “Four Seasons” double album. July’s program will include selections from “Summer” and “Spring” as well as some music by Beethoven.

The Church of Beethoven is an inexpensive, high quality informal classical music and poetry event every third Sunday in Oak Park.

Church of Beethoven is “...a ‘church’ with no preaching, just uplifting music, poetry and two minutes of silence in an all-too-busy world.” The goal of the Church of Beethoven is to build a sense of community around the arts, by removing the typically formal atmosphere of classical music, by breaking down the proverbial “fourth wall” between the audience and the performers. Featuring intimate Sunday morning performances by professional poets and musicians, it is located in the Arts District of Oak Park Illinois on Harrison St.

Mistress of Ceremonies is walking-musical-encyclopedia Val Camilletti of Val’s Halla Records.

The original Church of Beethoven was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Oak Park native and classical cellist Felix Wurman in an abandoned gas station on historic U. S. Route 66. http://youtu.be/F_NekVF9XXY The Albuquerque “Church” grew out of its humble beginnings and moved into The Kosmos, a larger arts space. Felix Wurman died of cancer in 2009, but the Church of Beethoven (now SundayChatter) lives on in Albuquerque and has sprouted new branches in Durham, North Carolina, Santa Monica, California and Tucson, Arizona and here in Oak Park, Illinois.

TIME: 10:30 sharp (come early at 10 a.m. for cookies and coffee)

Seating is limited, reservations recommended.

COST: $10 FOR ADULTS/ $5 FOR CHILDREN

Tickets: www.churchofbeethoven-oakpark.com/

Open Door Theater is located at 902 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park IL 60304

The Church of Beethoven is a 501(c)3 not for profit corporation.

www.churchofbeethoven-oakpark.com