About Concerts by the Pond

Welcome to Concerts by the Pond's 11th Anniversary Season

Letter from the Music Director:

Dear Concert by the Pond Friends,

Music is…

If I were to ask a hundred people to complete that sentence, I am sure to receive a hundred different responses – all of which would be correct. Music has the power to move, to teach, to transcend generations, to bring communities together, to heal. It can be timeless or new and innovative.

Welcome to the 2024-25 season of Concerts by the Pond. Last season we saw record attendance, expanded concert and educational offerings, and broader reach into our community. Following the amazing transformation of our concert series during our 10th Anniversary season, this year we continue to build upon those amazing successes.

This season you won’t want to miss a note – six mainstage concerts, several Behind the Music educational offerings, and a new Young Artist Scholarship Competition and Winners Showcase Concert will keep you coming back for more.

I know that year’s line-up of diverse, award-winning, innovative artists will bring their special and individual answer to “Music is —” to St. John’s Church. Won’t you join me on the journey to discovering the many ways to celebrate what “music is” in our community.

See you opening night!

Director of Music, St. John's Episcopal Church

About Concerts by the Pond:

Our Mission - Inspired by our beautifully restored church and our intimate, historic, and scenic venue, Concerts by the Pond provides diverse programming and innovative live performances of classical, contemporary, and liturgical music, which, coupled with dynamic education programs, creates a sense of discovery and community within our St. John's parish and the citizenry of Cold Spring Harbor and surrounding region.

Our Vision - Concerts by the Pond will be a regionally recognized, financially sustainable concert series destination that embraces a wide range of innovative and diverse programming and artists while intentionally integrating education and service and expanding St. John’s spiritual and musical presence in the greater community.

Our History - Upon the completion of a major church renovation and pipe organ installation a decade ago, a committee of church members, the organist, and then music director established a concert series. The mission: to celebrate the new instrument and offer a performance venue to local and regional artists.

In its first nine years, the Concerts by the Pond (CBTP) series has offered a wide range of programming, including: the American Brass Quintet, several noted concert organists, solo piano recitals, choral groups, chamber music ensembles, and children’s concerts.

Our Venue - Founded in 1836, the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church sits on the north shore of Long Island near Cold Spring Harbor, New York, fewer than 40 miles east of midtown Manhattan. The shingled white colonial-style building, consecrated in 1837, stands on the shoreline of a scenic pond and nature preserve.

A major renovation to the church’s sanctuary and facilities in 2012 included the installation of a specially designed, 3-manual Casavant pipe organ (34 independent stops, 43 ranks of pipes, 2587 pipes). The sanctuary also houses a Steinway-B concert grand piano.

The venue is ideal for chamber music and small ensemble singing, solo vocal, instrumental, and organ recitals. The intimate venue offers an easy acoustic and comfortably seats over 200 people on two levels.