Organ recital features local virtuoso

On Sunday, First Congregational Church will present the second annual Wesley M. Vos Memorial Organ recital at 4 p.m. in the church sanctuary, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake.

Performing will be renowned organist David Schrader of Chicago, and the church's Vestry Choir.

Schrader is equally at home in front of a harpsichord, organ, piano or fortepiano. He has performed at the American Guild of Organists' national convention on four occasions and has played organ and harpsichord with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Schrader is on the faculty of Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts-Music Conservatory for performance and academic studies, and appears regularly with organizations such as The Baroque Band, Chicago's period instrument orchestra; Music of the Baroque; the Newberry Consort; and Bach Week in Evanston.

Especially fond of French organ music of all periods, Schrader will perform music by Nicolas de Grigny (1671-1703), Jehan Alain (1911-40) and Maurice Durufle (1902-86) in the first half of the program. For more information about him at www.davidschrader.com.

The second half of the program will feature the FCC Vestry Choir performing "Requiem" by Durufle under the leadership of Ann Tucker. Schrader will accompany on the church's impressive John Paul Buzard Opus 16-pipe organ, using the composer's own arrangement for organ from the original orchestra parts.

Durufle was an important member of the Gregorian movement in France in the early part of the 20th century, and the requiem Mass uses Gregorian chants as a basis for his musical ideas. Vocal soloists for the requiem Mass will be soprano Jennifer Streit, and baritone Gerard Sundberg.

Streit is a member of the FCC Vestry choir and has performed as a soloist with the choir for several years. As a trained music educator, she has also been a director of children's choirs and preschool music programs at the church. Streit also is a member of the board of directors of the McHenry County Community Foundation.

Sundberg is a professor of music at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Wheaton, and has performed widely in the U.S., Ukraine and New Zealand. He has regularly appeared as soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus, and with many choral and orchestral groups in Illinois and Wisconsin.

The event is open to the public at no charge. There will be a free-will offering for the fund to continue the annual recital series. A reception will follow the program in the fellowship hall.

Call (815) 459-6010 for details. Directions to the church are available at www.fcc-cl.org.