Renown organist Sherer and Tower Brass to perform at Trinity International University

Renowned organist John W.W. Sherer and the Tower Brass ensemble will perform at Trinity International University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, in the ATO Chapel on the Deerfield campus. The program will include works by Alexandre Guilmant, Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Wagner, Louis Vierne and more.

Sherer has been hailed by critics as "a terrific musician." Reviewers have praised him for his "great creativity and élan" and, "As usual, Sherer communicated both the demanding and subtle qualities of the program through utilizing both his remarkable virtuoso technique and his sensitive musical sense to serve the requirements of the music." Dr. Sherer has performed numerous recitals throughout the United States and England, including several for regional and national organist conventions.

Since 1996, Sherer has been the organist and director of music for Fourth Presbyterian Church, which was picked by USA Today as one of the top 10 places in America to be "enthralled by heavenly music." The church has 15 choirs and instrumental groups, including the Morning Choir - a 26-voice professional ensemble - and professional brass ensemble, Tower Brass. Sherer manages an active concert series at the church, with more than 80 events each year. He has led several music missions and choir tours in the United States, England, France, Cuba and Guatemala. Sherer was recently selected as one of 50 prominent Chicagoans living with passion and purpose as featured in the book "Bright Lights of the Second City."

The BBC program "Songs of Praise" has featured the music of Fourth Church, with Sherer at the organ. The Morning Choir and Sherer also appeared in the Columbia TriStar motion picture "My Best Friend's Wedding," filmed in part at Fourth Church.

A native of Xenia, Ohio, Sherer is married to the Reverend Kara Wagner Sherer, an Episcopal priest, and has two daughters. He enjoys yoga, T'ai Chi, bicycling, gardening, painting, and anything related to the R.M.S. Titanic. He has studied organ with David Mulbury, Roberta Gary, Thomas Murray and John Weaver and conducting with John Leman and Walden Moore. Sherer received two bachelor degrees - in organ performance and choral music education - from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He earned two master's degrees at Yale University, majoring in organ performance and art in religion, and received the doctor of musical arts degree from the Juilliard School.

The Tower Brass of Chicago was founded by Matthew Comerford in the spring 1997, after many requests for more brass music at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. With generous donations, Tower Brass became a reality in the Chicago area's musical life in September of that same year. Regularly performing for worship services and concert performances, Tower Brass has come to be regarded as one of the finest brass ensembles in the area.

The musicians that make up Tower Brass are all highly accomplished freelance artists, often performing with such groups as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, commercial recordings for television and radio, and others. Tower Brass of Chicago has recorded three CDs: "A Christmas Celebration," "Urban Litany" and "Horns for the Holidays."

Tickets are now on sale for the concert, which is part of The Helen Smith Richard Organ Recital Series at Trinity. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. The Helen Laverne Smith Richard organ recital series is made possible through contributions by the Richard family, in loving memory of their wife and mother.

For tickets or information, call (847) 317-8021.