A devout Catholic musician turned the sacred space of a Soho church into the stage for his orchestra’s debut, blending classical music with faith. The newly formed group, which frames its performances through a Catholic perspective, drew modest but enthusiastic attendance for its first concert. The event marked a rare fusion of religious ritual and live music, with the venue doubling as both a place of worship and a concert hall. Details of the encounter during mass that inspired the performance remain a focal point of the story.
A few days before Higher Word’s first concert in October 2024, co-founder Spencer McIntosh went to mass at St. Anthony of Padua in Soho where the performance would be held. The newly formed orchestra, which plays classical music through a Catholic lens, had sold about 80 tickets for their inaugural performance. And during mass, McIntosh...
