World-class music at Emanuel Lutheran

NEW LONDON — Music will fill Emanuel Lutheran Church in a once-in-a-generation moment Sunday, Oct. 19, as the congregation unveils its new Parsons Pipe Organ, Opus 57, with a recital by New London native Dr. Steven Hoffman, Ph.D.
The free public concert begins at 2 p.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 200 E. Quincy St., followed by a light reception.

A hometown return
Hoffman, the son of Arlyn and Joyce Hoffman, grew up attending Emanuel Lutheran Church and School, where he began organ lessons in seventh grade under Mrs. Judi Thoma. He has since built an international career in performance and music education.
After earning a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance and Choral Music from Lawrence Conservatory, Hoffman completed graduate degrees at the University of South Dakota and the University of Michigan, where he studied with the renowned organist Marilyn Mason.

Today, Hoffman serves at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Campus Center in Laramie, and lectures in organ and counterpoint at the University of Wyoming.

‘God with Us in Sight and Sound’
The program, titled “God with Us in Sight and Sound,” will pair sacred music with imagery from Emanuel’s newly renovated sanctuary and altar artwork. Congregation leaders say the event will symbolize both a musical and visual renewal for the historic church.
“This recital isn’t just a performance,” said William A. Scharf, MEPD, Staff Minister and Technology Director at Emanuel Lutheran Church and School. “It’s a celebration of faith, craftsmanship, and community coming together in worship through sight and sound,” said Pastor Scharf.

A world-class instrument in New London

Built by Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua, New York, the Opus 57 installation marks a milestone for Emanuel Lutheran and for New London’s faith community. The instrument combines traditional pipe construction with modern digital precision to support worship and concert repertoire alike.
The new Parsons instrument at Emanuel Lutheran is Parsons Pipe Organ Builders’ 57th opus, designed specifically for the church’s acoustic profile and liturgical needs.
It features handcrafted wooden pipes, digital stops for expanded tonal range, and a console customized to integrate seamlessly into Emanuel’s renovated area.
Organ builders completed installation earlier this year after months of tonal voicing and calibration to ensure balanced sound throughout the sanctuary. The instrument replaces the church’s previous organ, which served for decades of worship services and concerts.
In addition to his local ties, Hoffman brings international experience, having performed hymn-based improvisations across North America and Europe. In 2017, he presented recitals on the hymns of Martin Luther at historic churches in Wittenberg, Germany, including the Castle Church, during the global 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.