A relevant part of Stefano Mhanna’s musical activity takes place in churches: here he presents programs for solo organ and solo violin, sometimes even playing both instruments in the same concert.
The favorite composer in these musical events is Johann Sebastian Bach
Since 2023, every second Sunday of the month, from October to June, he has performed a program dedicated primarily to the music of J.S. Bach at the Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in Rome, attended by a large and enthusiastic audience. At these events, he has performed all the sonatas and partitas for solo violin, as well as most of the fantasias, toccatas, preludes, and fugues.
In 2025 he played music by Bach and other composers on organ and violin for the following music institutions:
- Graz: Abendkonzerte at the Mariahilfkirche Church, July 20, 2025
- Krems: KirchenTonArt-Orgelsommer at the St. Veit – Dom der Wachau Church, July 17, 2025
- Rome: IUC Concerts | 80 Years of Classical Music in Rome (University Concert Institution of the University of Rome “La Sapienza“), Concert Series “Organizzando“, May 23, 2025
In the same year he held a series of organ concerts for the Municipality of Rome, playing works by Bach and other composers (Widor, Franck, Frescobaldi, Pera and others) on historical organs in various churches and basilicas in Rome
He also gave the inauguration concert for the restored organ in Nardò Cathedral for the Diocese of Nardò-Gallipoli on 24 February 2025
On April 15, 2025, he was invited by the journalist and musicologist Marco Di Battista and the journalist, composer and pianist Marcello Filotei to speak on Vatican Radio (Vatican News) about his concert activity, focusing on his style of performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach
In 2024
- Altivole (Treviso): 36th International Organ Festival „Città di Treviso e della Marca Trevigiana“, September 27, 2024
- Lecce: 10th edition of the Salento Organ Festival, August 31, 2024
- Lausanne: „Concert aux chandelles – Jeux de feu“, March 8, 2024
In 2023:
- Geneve: „Saint-Pierre en lumières“, Fondation des Clefs de Saint-Pierre, (Donor evening of the Geneva Evangelical Church), November 24, 2023
He performed as solo organist at the inaugural concerts of numerous churches, including the Church of the Istituto degli Artigianelli in Brescia, the Basilica of the Sanctuary of S. Rita da Cascia, the Church of S. Giuseppe Artigiano in Foligno, the Basilica of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Colle in Lenola, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome, the Basilica of S. Maria Ausiliatrice in Rome and the Church of S. Giuseppe in Santa Marinella.
He was invited to perform as a soloist in important festivals (often alternating between organ and solo violin), the “Soli Deo Gloria – Organi, Suoni e Voci della Città” festival organised by the San Francesco da Paola Musical Chapel Association and the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, the “XXI Concert Season” and the “XXII Concert Season” of the Choir and the Children’s Choir of the Cathedral of Modena, “Il Suono dell’Organo” (25th edition) organised by the Basilica of Don Bosco/Salesian Cultural Centre, the Reate Festival (10th edition) organised by the Flavio Vespasiano Foundation, the “XXXIV Ottobre Organistico Francescano” organised by the “Fabio da Bologna” Musical Association, the concerts organised by the Varrone Foundation – Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti and by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Basilica of Aquileia.
On December 5, 2012, he performed a concert as violin and organ soloist, entirely dedicated to the music of J. S. Bach, in the chapel of the Governorate of the Vatican City State. The concert was attended by cardinals, bishops, the choirmaster of the Cappella Giulia, Monsignor Pablo Colino, and public officials. The concert was recorded live by Vatican Radio and reviewed in the Vatican employees’ newspaper, “All’ombra del Cupolone“. Stefano Mhanna received a Vatican numismatic collection as a gift from Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, President of the Governorate.
