The historic Austin Pipe Organ at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church
Covenant-First Presbyterian Church downtown is hosting its third annual organ festival this Sunday and Monday, March 7 and 8.
Todd Wilson, organist at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, and head of the organ department at Cleveland Institute of Music, will be presenting a free recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 7. His program will include J.S. Bach’s Passacaglia in C minor, Three Cincinnati Impressions by Gerre Hancock, Soliloquy by David Conte; and Sonata on the 94th Psalm by Julius Reubke (1834-58).
Todd Wilson/photo by Sam Hubish
Wilson will conclude with his own “Improvisations on a submitted theme,” always a showstopper.
The church hasn’t been able to hold its series since exactly one year ago, when Alan Morrison was the guest artist one week before the nation shut down due to Covid-19.
I’m told they are ready with all the Covid safety protocols—masks, fresh air flowing, social distancing. The historic and beautiful sanctuary is very large, so it works for live music at a safe distance.
On Monday, Wilson will stay in town for a master class at the church, and some of Michael Unger’s CCM students will be participating.
The concert is free and open to the public.
Details: Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, 717 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The historic Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, downtown, will host its second annual Organ Festival this weekend, March 8 & 9, 2020.
This year, the featured organist is Alan Morrison, of the Curtis Institute. He will perform a free public recital at the church at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 8. On Monday March 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, he’ll preside over a master class for CCM organ students, also hosted at the church.
The festival is a partnership between the church (which hosts the events and underwrites all the costs) and the CCM Organ Department, which is directed by Dr. Michael Unger.
“The goal of this now second annual Organ Festival continues to be twofold: To bring a top organist to Cincinnati in recital, but also and as importantly, to partner with CCM’s organ studio to provide support for the future generation of church musicians,” said Robert Heidenreich, church member and festival organizer. “Our partnering with CCM continues to grow, and this is one key part of that.”
Morrison’s Sunday afternoon program looks tempting: Read More »
The historic Austin Pipe Organ at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church
Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in downtown Cincinnati is inaugurating its first annual organ festival in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, March 3 and 4 at the Elm Street church.
The church will host a free recital at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, with renowned organist Andrew Henderson. A public master class will follow on March 4.
Currently director of music and organist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, Dr. Henderson is chair of the organ department at the Manhattan School of Music and organ instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also the associate organist at New York City’s Temple Emanu-El, one of the world’s largest Jewish houses of worship.
The native of Thorold, Ontario, received degrees from Cambridge, Yale University and Juilliard.
“Andrew Henderson is an acclaimed organist who works as a performer, teacher, conductor, and musician of churches and synagogues in many of Manhattan’s most distinguished venues. His diverse program will highlight the color, depth and power of the organ at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church,” said Michael Unger, professor of organ and harpsichord at CCM. “He is an engaging, dynamic and thoughtful musician.”
Organist Andrew Henderson
Henderson will perform on the church’s historic, century-old Austin Pipe Organ. Built by the Austin Organ Co. of Hartford, Connecticut and installed in 1915, it was considered one of the largest organs in this part of the country, with 51 stops and more than 3,100 pipes.
His program –music of J.S. Bach, Bruhns, Sowerby and Mulet — includes works by composers with connections to his current post at New York’s Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church.
On Monday, 10 a.m. to noon, March 4, Henderson will lead a masterclass/workshop that will showcase the talents of CCM students in Unger’s studio. The event will focus on topics for church musicians.
Both events are free and open to the public at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church, 717 Elm Street, downtown.
The church will also sponsor a dinner at Moerlein Lager House for Dr. Henderson, Dr. Unger and CCM organ students.
The Austin Pipe Organ was given by Mrs. W. W. Seely in memory of her husband, Dr. William Wallace Seely. Following a fire in April, 1960, the organ was completely restored by Charles D. and James Hildreth and has since been updated and renovated in 1974, 1999, and 2000.
For more information, visit covfirstchurch.org; 513-621-4144.
