By Tony PhyrillasAn area church group is sponsoring a benefit concert to help rebuild the only house of worship destroyed by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.
A massive fundraising campaign is underway among Greek Orthodox
churches and other organizations to raise the $38 million needed for the
St. Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Lower Manhattan was demolished
when taller buildings around it collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. After more
than a decade of wrangling with government agencies, church officials
finally received approval to rebuild what will now be known as the St.
Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero, scheduled to open in 2016.
The women’s auxiliary of a Berks County church is doing its part to
help raise money by sponsoring a concert featuring two well-known
classical artists — pianist Maria Asteriadou and violinist Kurt
Nikkanen. The husband-and-wife performers are internationally known
musicians who are donating their time and talent to raise money for the
project.
The concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. at the
Miller Center for the Arts on the campus of Reading Area Community
College, 4 N. Second St., in Reading.
The benefit concert is sponsored by the St. Xenia Philoptochos
Society, a women’s organization at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek
Orthodox Church in Reading.
"Once rebuilt, it will function again as a Greek Orthodox church, but
on a larger scale it will also serve as a national shrine, a welcoming
haven for millions of people of all faiths who will visit the sacred
site and pause for a moment of prayer or silent reflection," said
Despina Denne, president of the St. Xenia Philoptochos Society and
co-chairwoman of the benefit concert along with Ann Kraras and Sharon
Whitman.
Greek-born pianist Asteriadou is an acclaimed soloist and chamber
musician who has recorded extensively and has performed recitals all
over the world. A graduate of the Julliard School and the Manhattan
School of Music, Asteriadou is an associate professor of music at
Kutztown University, where she also serves as director of the Chamber
Music Outreach Program.
Violinist Nikkanen is a native of Hartford, Conn., and has been
playing since the age of 3 and made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 12. A
graduate of the Julliard School, Nikkanen is concertmaster with the New
York City Ballet Orchestra and operates a private teaching studio in
New York City. He has performed all over the world and recorded the
work of many major composers, including Steven R. Gerber, who wrote a
violin concerto specifically for Nikkanen.
Tickets for the benefit concert are $25 per person and $15 for
students under 18. To order tickets, call 610-607-6270 or order online
the Miller Center website at www.racc.edu/MillerCenter
A “Meet the Artists” reception will be held following the performance featuring hors d’oeuvres donated by local restaurants.
Free parking for the event is available at the garage at Front and Washington streets in Reading.
As a side note, William Penn Chapter No. 61 Order of AHEPA has already donated $2,000 toward the St. Nicholas Shrine project.
As a side note, William Penn Chapter No. 61 Order of AHEPA has already donated $2,000 toward the St. Nicholas Shrine project.
