Join us is Lewiston, Maine!

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The King of Kings is a 1927 American silent film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It depicts the life of Jesus and includes scriptures from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

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Performing

Brett Valliant, Organist
Brett  is a native of Wichita, Kansas, realized his love of music at an early age. Brett began piano studies at age 4, continuing through organ instruction at Wichita State University. Brett’s professional career began at age 11, and by the age of 15, he was playing concerts around the United States. Since then Brett has appeared in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, in the U.S. Brett has performed for the American Film Institute, as well as at conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) and the American Guild of Organists (AGO). After years of filling in for Charlie and Lew at Organ Stop, Brett happily joined the Organ Stop musical staff in 2015.  In 2021, Brett was named Organist of the Year by the American Theatre Organ Society. In addition to playing the organ, Brett’s friends know him for his love of ice and roller skating, animals, cooking, and classic cars.

The Venue

Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul
122 Ash St, Lewiston, ME 04240
(207) 777-1200
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Saints Peter and Paul Parish, founded in 1870, is the oldest parish for the French-speaking Catholics in the Diocese of Portland. For the French Canadians who began arriving in Lewiston in the mid-19th century, the Catholic church was, next to the family, the focal point of life. Under the guidance of the Church, virtually every spiritual, social, recreational, and educational need was taken care of.

These French Canadians who immigrated south looking for work in the Lewiston mills were proud, strong, and hard working people. Below is the timeline of how Saints Peter and Paul evolved.
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The history of Saints Peter and Paul parish isn't just the chronicle of an old church, but of the amazing faith of the French immigrants whose struggles, patience, and great generosity built it. It reflects an aspect of the immigrant experience played out over and over again across the United States. In this way, the history of Saints Peter and Paul is an invaluable chapter on the history of this nation. (Read more here)

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The Casavant Organ at the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul
It is not without justification that the pipe organ is called the "king of instruments".  As a single instrument, it can not only rival the full power of a symphony orchestra but imitate many of the orchestra’s individual subtleties.  The pipe organ produces its sound in much the same way as the human voice does, with air.  This makes the pipe organ an excellent accompaniment instrument for the voice, from a single person to a large choir.  With many different types of pipes, a pipe organ is also capable of a great variety of sound color. This diversity of sound has inspired many of Western music’s greatest masters to compose some of their greatest works.  Gabrieli, Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Franck, and Messien all wrote masterpieces for an instrument that not only represents a pinnacle of musical achievement, but in its construction is also a triumph of human mechanical ingenuity. (Read more here)