The historic Annisquam Village Church, with its unparalleled acoustics, extraordinary instruments, and singular New England simplicity, has long hosted unique concerts. Ranging from Jacqueline Schwab (pianist for Ken Burns’ documentaries), to jazz great Dave McKenna, to Portuguese “Fado” chanteuse Ana Vinagre, to opera stars from Yakut (on tour for the United Nations), to the “Yokohama Lucy’s” organists, to BSO cellist Jonathan Miller, to the roof-raising New Temple Singers Gospel Choir, performers and audiences alike have found the AVC ideal for lively, intimate musical experiences.
The church now adds a new dimension to its offerings with its first Artist-in-Residence, violinist Scott Moore. Hailing from his native Kentucky, Moore had already forged a reputation when he moved to Gloucester in 2019. Louisville Orchestra conductor Teddy Abrams praises Moore’s “great talent and inventiveness,” noting his virtuosic musicianship and his “powerful, compelling sound.” Meanwhile, Moore has kept his roots alive with rock, jazz, bluegrass, and his own fusion of these genres in his compositions. A longtime member of the 23 String Band, he has performed across the country as a crowd favorite at festivals like Rockygrass, Grey Fox, Forecastle, ROMP, Festival of the Bluegrass. Moore’s studio incorporates both recording and composing /arranging capabilities as well. He lives in Lanesville with his wife, violinist Erica Pisaturo
and their two children.
In 2018, Moore began performing, from memory, J. S. Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin. Sampling the acoustics at the Village Church when he first arrived on Cape Ann, Moore says he knew he’d found “an ideal space to perform this sublime music.” Music Director Kathleen Adams describes his Bach as “brilliant, transcendent playing, promising exciting and wide-ranging collaborations here.”
As Artist-in-Residence, Moore will offer three Sunday afternoon Bach recitals (dates TBD). Turning his fiddle to another genre, he will curate a local ensemble to perform with him in a Chamber Roots concert later in the year.
Third Sunday worship services at the Village Church will feature Moore’s violin along with organ (or piano) and choir. The public is warmly welcomed. For more information, or to be on a concert mailing list, contact:
Kathleen Adams, AVC Music Director – jkadams967@gmail.com Rev. Sue Koehler-Arsenault, Pastor – capeannrevsue@gmail.com
Good Morning Gloucester 