St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville will hold its 21st annual Candlemas concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. The program will consist of piano trios performed by a new WNC chamber music organization, Classicopia. The concert will feature works by Mendelssohn and Brahms, performed by Daniel Weiser on piano, Kara Poorbaugh, violin/viola, and Franklin Keel, cello.

The yearly benefit concert for outreach celebrates the ancient Christian holiday of “Candlemas,” commemorating Mary’s return to the temple at Jerusalem to present her son to God.

Weiser is the artistic director of Classicopia, an organization he co-founded in 2001 in New Hampshire dedicated to performing high-quality chamber music in intimate settings using talented local musicians. The organization is expanding into this region with Weiser’s move to Asheville last year.

Weiser has a doctorate in piano performance from Peabody Conservatory and has performed around the world as a U.S. Artistic Ambassador of Music. Until recently he was on the music faculties of Dartmouth College and St. Paul’s School, in Concord, N.H.

Poorbaugh and Keel, both graduates of the Eastman School of Music, have been active performers in this area for several years as members of the Opal String Quartet and as principals in the Asheville and Hendersonville symphonies. Keel now teaches music in the Hendersonville schools.

In addition to Mendelssohn’s “D Minor Trio” and the Brahm’s “A Minor Trio,” the ensemble anticipates playing a couple of short trios by Astor Piazzolla.

Proceeds from this year’s concert have been designated for local hunger and poverty relief and will be divided equally between Interfaith Assistance Ministry and The Storehouse.

The price of admission includes a catered candlelight reception in the parish hall following the concert.

Tickets are available at the St. James receptionist desk, the Henderson County Visitor Information Center, Hand in Hand Gallery in Flat Rock and Diamond Rush Jewelry in Laurel Park Village. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.