Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

The Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln is set to host its second "Give Glory to God" concert on Sunday, November 17, at 7:30 p.m. The event will feature "Bread of Angels," a composition by Lincoln native John Kosch, commissioned specifically for this occasion.

Kosch, a member of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln and an organist at the Cathedral, also teaches applied composition at Concordia University in Seward. He is currently completing his doctorate in music composition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The piece was composed with the Cathedral organ in mind and aims to honor the Eucharist during the National Eucharistic Revival.

“I worked briefly on the composition at the Cathedral organ to ensure what I had written was a good fit for our instrument,” Kosch said about his work on "Bread of Angels." He expressed that writing with a specific organ in mind presented a unique responsibility. Using words from the “Corpus Christi Sequence,” Kosch sought to create something modest yet powerful.

In addition to "Bread of Angels," the concert will include performances of “Te Deum in F” by John Ireland and “Salve Regina Pacis” by Xavier Dotras. A choir comprising over 60 voices from across the diocese will perform alongside Plymouth Brass and other musicians forming a 10-member orchestra for Mozart’s “Coronation Mass.”

The inaugural Give Glory to God concert took place in 2022 after discussions between Cathedral’s choir director Amy Flamminio, organist David Schmidt, and pastor Msgr. Thomas Fucinaro aimed at fostering appreciation for sacred music within the parish and diocese. Flamminio shared her enthusiasm for this year's event, stating, “We hoped to give many people a chance to sing amazing music and grow in fellowship with other parish musicians. It far surpassed our goals and dreams, and I am excited to see how it grows this year.”

Proceeds from this year's concert will aid in restoring the Cathedral's organ. While valued at over $1.5 million due to its customization, repair costs are expected to exceed $20,000. The event seeks not only financial support but also aims to highlight the beauty and power of sacred music.

The concert is open to all attendees free of charge, with donations welcomed during the event.