Cathedral of Mary Our Queen plans anniversary, music events

The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland is planning a host of events to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Church tours, concerts and a “fun day” are all on the agenda, with the celebration culminating in an anniversary Mass on Nov. 15. Throughout the fall, the cathedral will also offer its annual Cathedral music series which will continue through the new year.

Below is the schedule of anniversary and music series events through Jan. 1:

Family Funfest
Sept 18 – 5-9:30 p.m.
Held on the front lawn of the cathedral, the fun fest will feature St. Veronica’s Steel Drum Band, the Immaculate Conception Gospel Choir, Irish step dancers, the Cathedral All Star Band and St. Veronica’s liturgical dancers. There will also be children’s games and other activities.

Concert with Ronn McFarlane
Sept. 20 – 5:30 p.m.
Ronn McFarlane will perform on the lute. The program is free, but free-will offerings will be received.

Church Tour
Sept. 30 – 2-4 p.m.
A special tour of the cathedral will be offered for those who need special accommodations, such as wheelchair access. Call 410-323-8526 by Sept. 23 to make reservations.

Anniversary Concert
Oct. 30 – 8 p.m.
The Peabody Orchestra will join the Cathedral Choir in performing former music director Robert Twynham’s “Magnificat” and Saint-Saens’ “Symphony #3 for Organ,” featuring Daniel J. Sansone as organist. Tickets are free and available at 410-464-4000.

Church Tour
October 18 – 2-4 p.m.
A special tour of the cathedral will be offered for members of the parish and surrounding communities.

Church Tour for Children
Nov. 8 – 2-4 p.m.
A special tour of the cathedral will be offered for children in grades 3-8, concluding with an ice cream social in the undercroft members of the parish and surrounding communities.

Anniversary Mass
Nov. 15 – 12:30 p.m.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien will celebrate the golden jubilee Mass that will conclude the anniversary celebration.

Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent
Nov. 29- 5:30 p.m.
The St. Stephen’s Choir of Men and Boys, under the direction of Adric, will present a traditional service of lessons and carols for advent. The program is free, but free-will offerings will be received.

Holiday Brass Concert
Dec. 1 – 7:30 p.m.
The International Women’s Brass Conference, Maryland Chapter, presents its 6th annual Holiday Brass Concert. The program will feature music of the season for brass, organ and choir, as well as familiar carols and sing-alongs. Performers will include brass players from the Baltimore and National Symphonies, and the nation’s premier military bands. The youth choirs of Towson Methodist church and the Baltimore Lutheran School will also be featured, along with a performance of Highland Cathedral by Bagpiper Jean Gould. For more information or to order tickets, call 410-337-7539 or visit www.holidaybrass.com.

Canticle Singers
Dec. 6 – 5:30 p.m.
Canticle Singers, a select women’s chamber choir under the direction of Wendy Wickham, will perform a varied program of seasonal choral music from throughout the ages. For information and tickets, call 410-374-9312.

Candesco
Dec. 12 – 6:30 p.m.
Candesco, a select women’s trio specializing in works of the Renaissance period and earlier, will perform a varied program of seasonal choral music from throughout the ages. The program is free, but free-will offerings will be received.

A Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas
Dec. 20 – 5:30 p.m.
The service will be sung in a candlelight setting by the combined Cathedral Choirs under the direction of Daniel J. Sansone. Traditional carols and anthems celebrating the joy of the Christmas season will be performed. This program is free and open to the public however, a free-will offering will be received.

Visit www.cathedralofmary.org for more information.