Famed guitar duo perform Christmas concert at Saint Andrew’s

The internationally known guitar duo of Michael Newman and Laura Oltman will present “A Christmas Pastorale” at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 50 York St., Lambertville, N.J., at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, to benefit restoration work at the historic church.

The program will present 600 years of carols, chorales, preludes and pastorales, including music by Martin Luther, J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, Archangelo Corelli, Felix Mendelssohn, and Johannes Brahms.

Ensemble-in-Residence at Mannes School of Music since 1987, Newman & Oltman’s concert tours have taken them to world cultural capitals and premier venues across five continents and to 49 of the United States.

Champions of new music, Newman and Oltman have built a unique repertoire of works for two guitars by leading and emerging composers.

Oltman teaches guitar at Princeton University and Lafayette College.

Newman serves on the guitar and chamber music faculties of Mannes School of Music and The College of New Jersey.

They are the recipients of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the 2017 City of Fiuggi (Italy) Career Prize, presented to the duo at the XI Fiuggi International Guitar Festival.

As founders and music directors of New Jersey’s Raritan River Music, the duo was awarded the National ASCAP/Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming.

Their recordings uniformly garner critical praise.

This concert is the third in Saint Andrew’s Concert Series for the 2018-19 season. In lieu of tickets, the artists ask that a donation be given to support restoration work at the historic Saint Andrew’s Church building; $20 per person is suggested.

The church is at the corner of Main and York streets, and parking is on the street. Inquiries may be directed to 609-397-2425 or deacon@standrewslambertville.net.Visit standrewslambertville.org for information about the music program.