Arts & Entertainment

First Baptist unveils new organ

Massive new instrument debuts at D.C. gay-friendly church

Published

12 years ago

September 15, 2013

Joey DiGuglielmo

Lon Schreiber at the console of the new organ at First Baptist Church. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

It was a big day at First Baptist Church of Washington. The church — at 1328 16th Street, N.W. — welcomed its massive new Austin pipe organ today with a recital by Lawrence “Lon” Schreiber, the church’s organist and choirmaster and a legend in D.C. church music circles having served four decades at National City Christian Church in Thomas Circle.

The multi-million-dollar project — in the works for years — has been in partial use for the past several months. Schreiber has used it in worship services while installation, which started in January, continued. Those involved say it was a mad dash to have it ready for today’s program and though some tweaking is all but sure to continue, the heavy lifting is done. The church has wanted to install a decent instrument since it moved to its current location in the 1950s, but the Herculean amount of money needed for such a beast never materialized until now. Schreiber, having overseen a similar installation at National City decades ago, was the man of the hour today. In fine form, he delivered a roughly 90-minute program designed to show off many facets of the organ. Music nerds can check out details of the instrument here.

Lon Schreiber in recital today at First Baptist. (Blade photo by Joey DiGuglielmo)

So how was the sound? Organ enthusiasts are obviously salivating to compare it to the new (but smaller) Rubenstein Family Organ at the Kennedy Center and the other major instruments in the city such as the organs at National Cathedral and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (both larger in rank, even though First Baptist now joins National City’s organ as the only five-manual organs in town).

It’s hard to say — having only heard the Kennedy Center organ in rehearsal, I’m not the best person to judge. I can say there was a staggeringly delicious array of sound color exhibited this afternoon, especially on the softer selections such as Seth Bingham’s “Twilight At Fiesole” and Maurice Durufle’s “Meditation,” which showcased the pedal organ’s soft 32-foot pipes.

Several of the gay organ queens — and they’re legion in these parts — said at a post-performance reception downstairs, there was a noticeable difference in tuning between the pipe ranks and the digital ones (about a third of the organ is digital). My ear isn’t savvy enough to have heard any clash, but it wasn’t just one person saying this. Keeping pipes in tune is a constant effort, so the powers that be will undoubtedly address this as the organ “settles.”

Schreiber showed his usual exquisite taste in the selections which ran the gamut from Bach to several selections from 20th Century composers. If there was any disappointment in the afternoon, it was only that there were too few moments to hear the instrument in all its “full organ” glory. Only the final selection — Cesar Frank’s “Choral in E Major” featured any lengthy fortissimo sections. A few others popped up once or twice, but were over before the sound could fully be savored.

Virtuosos Ken Cowan (Oct. 20) and Christopher Houlihan (Nov. 24) are likely to do more on that front. The organ will officially be dedicated at the church’s usual service on Nov. 3. Go here for details.

Couldn’t make it today? The church has CDs and DVDs of the performance available for nominal fees.

The set list was:
1. Fanfare and March (Archer)
2. Nef No. 1 (Mulet)
3. Liebster Jesu (Bach)
4. Let Heaven and Earth Rejoice (Bach)
5. Prelude and Fugue in B Minor (Bach)
6. Twilight at Fiesole (Bingham)
7. Meditation (Durufle)
8. Nimrod (Elgar)
9. A Solemn Melody (Davies)
10. Choral in E Major (Frank)

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FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Out & About

Love board games and looking for love?

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Image by VLADGRIN/Bigstock)

Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC.

Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?

Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment.

At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.

Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Calendar

Calendar: January 16-22

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, January 16

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 17

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center and SMYAL will host a free film screening of “Mama Bears” celebrating queer youth, resilience, and the power of living authentically. Whether you’re a movie lover, looking to make new friends, or simply want a safe, affirming space to relax, this event is for you. Click this link to RSVP.

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, January 18

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, January 19

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, January 20

Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Tae Kwon Do Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Wednesday, January 21

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, January 22

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Sports

Capitals to host 10th annual Pride night

Pre-game block party planned at District E

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.

Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.