Idyllwild’s Calvary Chapel, in association with other off-Hill churches, stages a free concert of Christian-themed music covering a wide range of musical genres.
Chaplain Cory Sundeen, affiliated with Calvary Chapel Indio, is unofficial music coordinator of the Idyllwild concert. “The purpose of the church is to serve the people, all people, and bring them closer to God and let them know God loves them,” said Sundeen. “And sometimes in churches, the traditional hymns are not joyful. Many people are not exposed to the joyful praise music we’ll be presenting. And because Idyllwild is a music town, that’s how we wanted to reach out.”
From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Butterfield Commons on Strawberry Creek, six different bands from off-Hill church programs, several with professional musicians, will be performing. Sundeen stressed that all musical styles and genres will be performed. “One group, Church 180 in Joshua Tree, is like a biker-blues Christian band,” he noted. Another group, from Hosanna City Church in Cathedral City, features April Murphy, who won the 2013 McCallum Theater’s annual ‘Open Call’ contest.” Murphy won the Helen Turner Grand Prize. In winning, Murphy sang “Someone Like You,” from the Broadway production “Jekyll and Hyde.” She had previously been a semifinalist in 2010.
Sundeen reminded attendees to bring their own chairs and water. He said there would be an independent food vendor nearby.
“My wife and I came up last year, loved the town and connected with Pastor Earl Summerville of Idyllwild Calvary Chapel,” said Sundeen. “We thought the concert would be a way to let people know about Calvary Chapel’s presence in the town (Calvary Idyllwild was established in 2015).
Sundeen acknowledged they’d be competing with Jazz in the Pines, but noted that this is a free event, an opportunity for those who can’t afford the festival ticket prices to still have a beautiful and joyful afternoon of music.
