Church to present organ concert
Submitted by First United Methodist Church
On Sunday, Sept. 23, join First United Methodist Church for its second “175th Anniversary Organ Concert.” The concert at 7 p.m. will feature Steve Smith from Triune Music, the Midwest representatives for Rodgers and Ruffatti Pipe Organs. He will accompany a hymn sing and play a program of Wesley and American organ pieces.
Smith joined the staff of Rodgers Organs in 1980. Within seven years, he became the president of this firm and has served in that capacity ever since. During the past 31 years, he has designed and installed over 600 organs in the Midwest including nearly 85 pipe organs. Triune Music specializes in all three types of organs (digital, pipe and hybrid) and is one the largest organ providers in the Midwest.
Over the past 40 years, Smith has served as music director for several Lutheran and Reformed Churches in the Chicago area. In 1994, he became the principal organist for the Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wis. where he played for their radio and television broadcasts and also appeared with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony.
In 1998, Smith made his first appearance as a guest organist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Steve has reappeared several times with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for performances of works by Mahler, Saint-Saens, Bach, and Holst.
The Austin Pipe Organ at First United Methodist Church was originally installed in 1924. In 1967, as a product of the Organ Reform Movement, led by E. Power Biggs and Albert Schweitzer, the organ was removed and rebuilt extensively. In 2006, a new custom 4-manual console was installed. It was built by Rodgers Instruments LLC of Hillsboro, Ore. In 2007, the organ was expanded with an additional 20 ranks of pipes, bringing the total to 60 pipe ranks. Most noticeable (in the rear gallery) is the solid brass, Trompette en Chamade built by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy. The vision for this instrument allowed technology and art to come together into a single design concept, a concept which combines the wonder of electronics with the magic of windblown pipes.
Up next is the official 175th anniversary service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, followed by a dinner. Past ministers of First Church will be in attendance and the service will be broadcast live over WRMN AM.