Preview: Sacred Music Foundation celebrates religious music's classical roots

Tenor Ross Hauck is a familiar figure at Benaroya Hall, seen and heard singing selections from Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story" as part of Seattle Symphony's "Romeo & Juliet: A Valentine's Day Concert." He also brought passion and emotional focus to May's world premiere of "Vedem," an oratorio commissioned by Music of Remembrance.

But there is another music venue where Hauck finds deep personal satisfaction: the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. In late May, he joined soprano Terri Richter, baritone Morgan Smith plus choir and orchestra in a performance of Joseph Haydn's "The Creation," a sacred-music vision of the formation of all living things.

"Music is not just a tradition there, it's a fine art," says Hauck. "I can use my classical training in a sacred context."

As artistic director of the two-year-old Sacred Music Foundation (SMF), Hauck can invite other Christian artists to do the same. This weekend, SMF launches a wave of programs and activities with a celebratory show in Bellevue at a location to be announced when tickets are purchased.

Bach, Mozart and Handel, among many other composers, wrote sacred music for churches that is typically played now in secular settings. For Hauck, a devout Christian, finding opportunities to connect his profession and faith in the modern world has been a challenge.

"I studied the choral repertoire — much of which is sacred music — at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music," Hauck says, "and the faith element was not encouraged. Meanwhile, the churches where I worshipped lacked anyone trained in serious music."

After a financially burdensome experiment in producing concerts, Hauck sought another way to merge music with worship. He founded SMF with Craig W. Rhyne, a businessman who also attends First Presbyterian.

"I've heard complaints over the years from people annoyed with the music in their churches," says Rhyne, SMF president. "There's been a drift away from gospel and serious music to what sounds like a pep rally."

SMF seeks to encourage Christian churches to let professional, trained musicians and vocalists take the reins of music programs. They also want artists of Hauck's caliber to find satisfaction linking talent with their faith.

The Sunday program, called "A Taste of Heaven: Celebrating Sacred Music from Bach to Bernstein," includes wining, dining and an eclectic program of jazz, chamber music, traditional and cutting-edge sounds.

Joining Hauck on the bill is Richter, mezzo-soprano Marana Avant, baritone Charles Robert Stephens and accompanying musicians. Composer-pianist Alicia Lewis also performs, as will Nate Brown and the Jazz Ensemble. Hauck says the show includes everything from a Mennonite hymn to a new work featuring a tamboura, an Indian instrument.

Hauck emphasizes that all lovers of music, Christian or not, are welcome to bask in all SMF-sponsored performances.

"Music is transformative, a universal language," Hauck says. "We don't lead with sermons. We have something beautiful to offer."

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com