Despite Hurricane Helene’s extensive damage to the St. John United Methodist Church sanctuary, the annual Concerts with a Cause series continued its mission last year of bringing music to the community and raising money for charities.
The 2025-2026 concert season begins with a celebratory event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Five Pianists will feature Rosalyn Floyd, Martin David Jones, Christopher Leysath, Larry Millen and Clara Park in concert highlighting a wide variety of music as well as spotlight the church’s new Steinway C piano.
Not only did the hurricane rip the roof off the building, but the storm also poured a massive amount of water into the sanctuary, buckling floors and filling their “greatly beloved Steinway C” with gallons of water, said Jamie Council Garvey, St. John’s director of music.
The damaged piano was likely installed in observance of the church’s 100th anniversary in 1898, she said. It had been repaired over the years, but the hurricane damage was too great. The new Steinway C, which is only made in Germany, recently arrived.
Among the sanctuary repairs include new flooring, which makes the acoustics in the building even better, she said.
The event will benefit the Evolve program which works with children in the foster care system with programs that focus on topics such resilience.
The next concert, which benefits GAP Ministries, is the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Concert and Lessons and Carols. It begins at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 24.
Seraph Brass, an all-female brass quintet, will play at 3 p.m. Feb. 22, 2026, and the Kinnara chamber choir will perform at 3 p.m. March 15. Seraph Brass will benefit Oaks Ministry and Kinnara will benefit Valor Station.
Since 2003, “Concerts with a Cause has donated $266,851 to 67 local organizations which are doing good work for the Kingdom of God in our community.
“Christianity has always been associated with great works of art and beauty, expressing the inexpressible and transcending the earthbound. We believe these concerts, whether they feature sacred or secular music, help audiences find God here,” according to the Concerts with a Cause page at St. John United Methodist Church’s website.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
