Chance Meeting Brings Friendship, Music and Concert
Sunday, May 22 at 4 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights will present local pianist and organist Marianne Kim in a free concert of hymn arrangements, show tunes and jazz for piano and pipe organ. This final performance of the 2015-2016 Concert Series is a recently added event to the season's lineup. And it all began with a seemingly chance encounter.
Long-time members of First Presbyterian Church Larry and Jan Olson have a special connection with Marianne Kim. The couple have been fans of Kim's music for years, and a recent unexpected meeting turned into a friendship and an opportunity to share her music with the congregation and surrounding community.
The Olsons themselves are quite musical, singing in choirs since they were very young. Jan shared her talent for many years as a pianist, composer and arranger and sang in barbershop choruses and women's singing groups in Chicago's suburbs. However, Jan's diagnosis with multiple system atrophy in 2012 changed life dramatically for the Olsons. MSA has slowly robbed Jan of her ability to move and communicate. Despite these trials, Jan continues her keen appreciation for music. "Listening to music brings her joy and passes the time," Larry said.
Several months ago, Larry unexpectedly met Kim at First Presbyterian Church. Their paths had never before crossed, despite the fact that she has been practicing on the 52-rank Schantz pipe organ for the past couple of years. As a volunteer handyman at the church, Larry was busy changing light bulbs in the chancel one Tuesday morning in February when in walked Marianne Kim. Larry instantly recognized her as the accompanist for the Lakeside Singers. For years, the Olsons have followed the performances of this group of professional mixed voices based in the Chicago area. "When Jan and I would attend their concerts, Jan insisted on sitting so she could watch Marianne's hands playing the piano," said Larry.
Larry struck up a conversation with Kim and she soon agreed to stop by the Olsons' home to share music with Jan. Several hours and many songs later, the new friends parted ways, but not for long. Jan said, "I wish our friends could hear just how good Marianne is." That's when the couple decided to bring Kim to First Presbyterian for a special concert on Sunday, May 22 at 4 pm. "I was honored when Larry contacted me to put on a concert at First Presbyterian," said Kim. "The Olsons are such nice people and I have enjoyed getting to know them."
Kim is gifted in classical, jazz, R&B, rock, Broadway musical and traditional and contemporary church music. A native of Busan, South Korea, she began studying classical piano at age 7. She came to the United States in 2000 with a music scholarship at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, where she studied piano and organ. She has a master of music degree in jazz studies and recently earned a master of music degree in organ performance, both from NIU. Based in the Chicago area, Kim performs dual roles as classical accompanist and rhythm section keyboardist for the Lakeside Singers. She is also a pianist for a Chicago area swing band, the Starfall Orchestra, and leads her own jazz trio/quartet and classical ensemble. She has served at Moody Bible Church, Chicago, and Willow Creek Church, based in South Barrington, Ill.
"I'm humbled by her friendship, believing that God must have had a hand in my changing light bulbs that Tuesday morning. It's been a bright spot in otherwise difficult days for Jan and me," said Larry. "Jan and I hope many can attend the concert and experience the gift of music that Marianne shared with us."
All Concert Series events at First Presbyterian are free and open to the public, with free child care provided. The concert will be webcast at www.fpcah.org/webcast. First Presbyterian Church is at 302 N. Dunton Ave. in Arlington Heights. To learn more, visit www.fpcah.org or call the church office at (847) 255-5900.