First Church in Belfast, UCC

08/25/2026

When 12-year-old Leah Kercsmar arrived in Washington, D.C., to visit her representatives, she was joined by her family and a poster-sized print of her

07/24/2026

Please join us in the sanctuary next Thursday at 7pm for another wonderful performance by the DaPonte String Quartet 🎻

Read on for more information about the concert:

DaPonte String Quartet Brings Ives and Brahms to Coastal Maine in Summer Concert Tour

The DaPonte String Quartet invites audiences throughout coastal Maine to experience an evening of extraordinary chamber music featuring two landmark works of the string quartet repertoire: Charles Ives' String Quartet No. 2 and Johannes Brahms' String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2. The performances will take place at multiple venues along the Maine coast, bringing world-class chamber music to communities from Midcoast villages to Downeast towns.

The pairing of Ives and Brahms offers audiences a compelling musical journey across generations and continents. Brahms' Second String Quartet is a masterwork of Romantic lyricism, rich textures, and emotional depth, reflecting the composer's meticulous craftsmanship and profound expressive voice. In striking contrast, Charles Ives' Second String Quartet remains one of the most original works ever written for the medium. Bold, humorous, argumentative, and deeply American, the quartet pushes the boundaries of chamber music with startling harmonic language, rhythmic vitality, and moments of remarkable tenderness. Ives famously described the work as depicting "four men who converse, discuss, argue...fight, shake hands, shut up—then walk up the mountainside to view the firmament.” Together, these works illuminate the remarkable evolution of the string quartet—from the refined elegance of the European Romantic tradition to the adventurous spirit of twentieth-century American music.

Known for performances that combine technical excellence with thoughtful interpretation, the DaPonte String Quartet has earned a reputation as one of Maine's premier chamber ensembles. Through its concerts and educational programs, the quartet has spent decades connecting audiences with both beloved classics and innovative repertoire, making chamber music vibrant, accessible, and deeply engaging.

"Programming Brahms and Ives together reveals two very different visions of what a string quartet can be," says the ensemble. "One speaks through lyrical richness and structural mastery; the other through bold individuality, wit, and experimentation. Hearing them side by side offers audiences a fresh perspective on both composers."

Concerts will be presented in multiple communities along the Maine coast, offering audiences numerous opportunities to experience these remarkable works in intimate settings renowned for their exceptional acoustics and welcoming atmosphere.

Performance dates and venues are available through the DaPonte String Quartet's concert calendar at: www.dapontequartet.org/tickets

07/21/2026

Please join us for our free monthly community meal this Sunday, July 26!

07/07/2026

Join us for our annual Summer Fair on Saturday July 11th from 9am-2pm! Something for everyone 🌞

06/17/2026

More than 60 churches, across 26 states, and 354 participating children and teen artists — with the youngest artist just two-years-old — joined together

03/19/2026

Join us next Thursday March 26th at 7pm for a concert by DaPonte String Quartet in the First Church sanctuary! 🎻

03/10/2026

01/16/2026

Please join us for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Prayer Service this Monday, January 19 at 4PM in the First Church in Belfast Sanctuary. Sponsored by First Church in Belfast Missions & Social Justice. Posters by Waldo County Technical Center students!

12/16/2025

Some wonderful opportunities in the coming weeks to celebrate the Christmas Season with us at First Church! Please join us for the Mount View Chamber Singers, Carols in the Round at 2 PM on Saturday 12/20, Belfast Chamber Music Hearth and Home Benefit Concert at 3 PM on Sunday 12/21, and of course Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 PM on 12/24. ⭐️🎄❄️