Tickets on sale for Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour finale Sept. 12
Tickets go on sale this weekend for the Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour’s finale concert to be held on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. at the historic First Congregational Church of Elgin located at 256 E. Chicago St.
The concert, which had been postponed from its original date of June 6, promises to be an unforgettable evening of music performed on the church’s magnificent pipe organ dating from 1893 and set within the architecturally stunning 1889 sanctuary of Elgin’s “first church.”
The concert features two remarkable works: the Concerto for Organ and Orchestra by German organist and composer Hans-André Stamm in its North American premiere of this arrangement for organ, strings, and timpani, alongside the captivating Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani in G minor by Francis Poulenc.
These pieces will showcase the rich and varied tones of First Congregational’s historic pipe organ, complimented by the artistry of musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Organ soloist will be First Congregational’s music director, Jeff Neufeld, and Elgin Symphony’s esteemed maestro, Chad Goodman, will conduct.
The finale concert caps a remarkable tour of 10 Elgin-area churches, organized and led by Neufeld, with each church hosting concerts that highlighted their unique pipe organs — from the majestic four-manual and pedal, 160-rank (rows of pipes or digitally sampled sounds) Austin/Rodgers hybrid pipe and digital organ at First United Methodist Church, to the charming 17th-century, one-manual, 3-rank Hartmann cabinet organ at the Church of the Brethren General Offices.
The concert is a celebration of this diverse musical journey through Elgin’s many churches, and with some churches already expressing interest in doing more concerts, Neufeld hopes this “finale” can also serve as a kick off for a 2025-26 tour and perhaps become an annual staple of the rich Elgin arts scene.
Tickets are $20 general admission and can be purchased in advance at fcc-elgin.org/organ-tour or at the door.
Patrons can also financially support the concert through a tax-exempt charitable contribution at the same link above or by mailing a check to First Congregational Church. Contributions help sustain the Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour and preserve the legacy of these historic instruments for future generations.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the power and elegance of organ and orchestra music in the acoustically rich setting of First Congregational Church. Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast or simply curious about the artistry of Elgin’s historic organs, this concert promises to inspire and uplift. Visit fcc-elgin.org/organ-tour for more information.