Concert at John Knox Presbyterian, North Olmsted

JOHN KNOX PERFORMANCE SERIES

I have been blessed in my 50 year career of being invited to return for repeat performances in a good number of the churches I have played concerts.  In March of 2015, I played the dedication of the Rodgers 243 Infinity Organ at John Knox Presbyterian Church in North Olmsted, Ohio and was pleased when I received the invitation to return for a performance in their concert series on October 4, 2019.  While a two manual instrument, the Rodgers 243 is FILLED with amazing tonal resources.  First the Rodgers Voice Palette, additional stops behind each stop on the organ which are variations on the named stop from various schools of organ building as well as additional stops which are useful in both worship accompaniment and concert performance.  Next there is the voice library offering a amazing array of even more “classical” pipe organ stops and theatre organ stops as well.  These can be adjusted by raising or lowering one or two octaves, volume, tuning, etc.  Then, there is the on-board orchestral voices to add drums, bells, stringed instruments, brass, tuned percussions to the organ.  And, (though not for this program) a MIDI sound module could be connected to add even more orchestral sounds!  I chose the program theme “For everything there is a season” and played the audience through the church year using psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and having them sing selected verses of many of the hymns I chose!  It was an evening of variety and color and the audience seemed to be engaged with me the full hour and twenty minutes!  Here’s a photo journal.

Five different years while working as a product specialist at Rodgers I taught a summer week of organ classes at the FABM MUSIC WEEK at Greenlake, Wisconsin.  One of my students was Dawn Reilly, who is a musician at John Knox Church.  She was attracted to the Rodgers Organ and Midi System and when the time came, she was responsible for leading the John Knox committee to choose and install this Rodgers Organ, AND to invite me to play the dedication.  It was great to see Dawn again for this program.  Dawn told me she still has my “notes” from the last session I taught there in 2005, and refers to them occasionally when playing this organ.

Dawn and her husband were also donors for this project–here is the commemorative plaque secured to the organ.

What a surprise to have Helen Mengle in attendance at this program!  Her mother-in-law Viola Mengle was the pianist for our “opening exercises” at my home church in West Virginia-The Westmoreland United Methodist church.  I loved hearing her play the old upright.  I knew where she lived and walked by her house hoping she would be on the front porch and I could say hello.  I quickly learned that she would invite me in and offer me cookies and play a song or two for me.  When she retired, I played well enough to become the young man who now played for opening exercises for the “youngsters”.  We stayed in touch, I sent her every recital program I played and I still have beautifully hand-written letters from her with comments on my recital pieces.  I was probably playing at John Knox church on 10-04-19 as a result of Mrs. Viola Mengle and her influence!  I so appreciated Helen Mengle being present and greeting me following this program.

I greatly appreciate my friends from TSGOOD Church Organ Company being present!  David Powers (with his wife Gayle-both fine organists in the Cleveland area) has been instrumental in introducing me to many churches in this immediate North Olmstead, Westlake, Rocky Ridge area where I’ve played multiple concerts including Dover Congregational (Organist Jan Jones pictured to the right), Divinity Lutheran, Rocky Ridge Presbyterian to name a few.  David was a key player in the sale, installation and voicing of this wonderful instrument.

Thanks for a great evening friends at John Knox Presbyterian Church, North Olmsted, Ohio!