LEWISTON – Saints Peter and Paul Church is offering a summertime series of noonday concerts beginning Wednesday, July 14.

These half hour programs begin at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays through Aug. 4th. They will feature some of Maine’s most talented classical musicians, according to a spokesman for the series.

The first program on July 14 and will be presented by the Cathedral Schola Cantorum under the direction of Philip Fournier. The Schola is a small a cappella ensemble that specializes in the sacred music of the early Catholic Church. The sublime beauty of this music and the mastery with which it is performed has created a devoted following throughout New England for this group.

On July 21, Portland municipal organist Ray Cornils will give a concert that will include works by Vierne, Bonnet, Dandrieu, Yon and Walter. It promises to be an exciting program that will please both old and young.

Born in Sterling, Ill., Cornils received a bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and a master of music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music.

He has studied organ with Robert Reeves, Fenner Douglass, William Porter, Yuko Hayashi and Dame Gillian Weir.

Cornils has presented concerts throughout the United States, as well as recitals in Germany, Russia, New Zealand and France.

He has been a featured performer at conventions of both the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. He also has been a guest artist on “Midnight Pipes,” a television program hosted by Fred Hohman. He performs regularly with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. His CD recording, “The Mighty Kotzschmar,” referring to the Kotzschmar organ in Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, is available on the Pro Organo label.

The noonday concerts are free, according to the spokesman, although a donation to the Cassavant organ restoration fund would be greatly appreciated.