Inspired by the Liturgy of Evening Prayer, also known as Evensong, Stained Glass Vespers is a multi-sensory event celebrating the intersection of art and faith, exploring worship as an art-based inquiry.
The event is free and open to the public, but we are asking for registration for reception purposes and designed to be accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
"Save the Date" for the Next Installation of Stained Glass Vespers!
hOPE AND DEVOTION
JUNE 14, 2025 at 7 pm
With a pre-event fundraising reception at 6:15 p.m.
in the King of Glory Parlor
Dr. Zvony Nagy, PIANIST AND organist; ANDREA MESSINA WEIDEMANN, SOPRANO
About the Artists:
Zvony (Zvonimir) Nagy (pronounced /zvônimiːr nadj;/) is a Croatian-born American organist, pianist, choral conductor, composer, and educator.
His musical journey is a testament to his versatility.
Nagy earned a Doctor of Music Composition from Northwestern University and honed his piano and organ performance skills at Texas Christian University, École Normale de Musique, and Schola Cantorum in Paris, France, and the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He was awarded the second prize in the César Franck-Olivier Messiaen International Organ Competition in Haarlem, the Netherlands.
As an organist and pianist, Nagy has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and choral conductor throughout the United States and Europe, showcasing a repertoire that spans classical to contemporary music. His piano and organ recordings are available through PARMA Recordings-Ravello Records, Albany Records and MSR Classics; Universal Edition and Paraclete Press publish his music.
He has a proven track record of internationally recognized scholarly and creative work as a university professor. As an improviser, he draws from historical and experimental improvisation practices, interactive media technologies, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Nagy has directed sacred music at churches and cathedrals nationwide demonstrating his ongoing commitment to church music and leadership experience with various music programs. Currently, he serves as Director of Music and Worship at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas. For more information and collections of work, visit nagymusic.com.
Andrea Weidemann:
Noted for her “youthful creativity” and “exceptional attention to detail,” soprano musician Andrea Weidemann is a devotee of opera, early music, and choral scenes of the Western and Southwestern United States.
A proud graduate of the University of North Texas and Colorado State University, Ms. Weidemann has gone on to sing as a chorister with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Colorado, and Ars Nova Singers. She has performed as a soloist with Boulder Opera Company, Musikanten Montana, Opera Fort Collins, Arlington Master Chorale, Seicento Baroque Ensemble, Flower Mound Symphony, Aries Composers Festival, and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra.
Her stage role highlights include Pamina in Mozart’s Magic Flute; Woglinde, Ortlinde, and Walfvogel in Wagner’s Ring Cycle; Euridice in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice; and Johanna in Sweeney Todd.
She is passionate about collaborating, teaching, touring, translating, and organizing opportunities for artistic expression.
PAST EVENTS:
Improvisations on the Seven Last Words of Christ
March 29, 2025 at 7 pm
DR. ZVONY NAGY, ORGANIST; ROB DRAPER, NARRATOR
We invite you to explore Lenten themes of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph, and reunion through organ improvisations on the Seven Last Words of Christ, performed by Zvony Nagy on the Rosales organ, with narration by Rob Draper.
All Saints' Reflections
November 2, 2024 at 7 pm
in the Atrium
Experience the beauty of All Saints' Day through music, prayer, and reflection with choristers, Michaella Prussack, Ivan Rodriguez, Marcus Rodriguez, and Kelly Schaaf, accompanied by Christina Birdwell on cello, Halie Wyckoff on harp, and Zvony Nagy on organ.
Light and Shadow in Choral Music
May 18, 2024 at 7 pm
IN the Atrium
I the early Summer of 2024, we meditated through sound on the light within and shadow beyond. Held in King of Glory's acoustically splendid Atrium, this Stained Glass Vespers featured the Sanctuary Choir and soloists with responses, hymns, and anthems by Helvey, Lauredsen, Nagy, and Visser.
Reflections on the Cross
Multimedia Meditations on the Cross
Through Music, Images, and Film
March 2, 2024 at 7 pm
Inspired by a series of paintings by American abstract painter, Barnett Newman. Featuring multimedia electronic music and video. The series of meditations on the cross offered a contemplative space for Lenten reflection.
Lema Sabachthani — why? Why did you forsake me? Why forsake me? To what purpose? Why? This is the Passion. This outcry of Jesus. Not the terrible walk up the Via Dolorosa, but the question that has no answer. This overwhelming question that does not complain, makes today’s talk of alienation, as if alienation were a modern invention, an embarrassment. This question that has no answer has been with us so long — since Jesus — since Abraham — since Adam — the original question.
Lema? — to what purpose — is the unanswerable question of human suffering.
Can the Passion be expressed by a series of anecdotes, by fourteen sentimental illustrations? Do not the Stations tell of one event?
The first pilgrims walked the Via Dolorosa to identify themselves with the original moment, not to reduce it to a pious legend; nor even to worship the story of one man and his agony, but to stand witness to the story of each man’s agony; the agony that is single, constant, unrelenting, willed — world without end. - Barnett Newman