Submitted by UCCHH
(August 29, 2025) — The United Congregational Church of Haddam and Higganum (UCCHH) is pleased to announce that Michael Steven Lianos will present the 2025 Gladys Burr Peck Memorial Concert on September 21, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in Higganum. The concert is free admission. A reception follows.
Mr. Lianos is the Director of Music and Organist at The Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich. He directs the Norwich Diocesan Choir, which has members from throughout the diocese and region, and several singing and handbell choirs for children and adults. Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m., Mr. Lianos leads the Cathedral Choir on organ, and this program is broadcast on WICH radio and live-streamed.
Previously, Mr. Lianos led music at St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. He also was the interim Harpsichordist and a vocalist with Governor’s Musick, Colonial Williamsburg’s prestigious early music ensemble.
Mr. Lianos will play the 1903 organ of the former Higganum Congregational Church, now the north campus of the UCCHH, located at 23 Parsonage Road. This is the 109th pipe organ made by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, which began building organs in 1893. It has the “Romantic” tonal design of its era, which is particularly pleasing for listeners.
Gladys Burr Peck (1917-2006) was a member of the Higganum Congregational Church for 78 years. She had been first a Sunday School teacher and then Superintendent of the Church School for a combined 30 years, and had been Clerk of the church for 60 years (1943 – 2003). Her husband and daughter, wishing to honor her in a way that both acknowledged her long support of the Higganum Congregational Church and provided a special event in her hometown, established the Gladys Burr Peck Memorial Organ Concert. The first concert was held September 24, 2006, with Professor Neely Bruce of Wesleyan University as organist.
