MONROE - Two Monroe organists will participate in a recital Friday to raise funds to provide scholarships for organ study. The scholarships, offered by an area organization of church musicians, are meant to combat the problem of churches not being able to find a trained organist to lead their services.
This year's fundraising recital is a performance of the complete "Orgelbuchlein" (Little Organ Book) by J.S. Bach, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1833 Regent St., Madison. The "Orgelbuchlein," most of which was composed from 1708-17, is a collection of 46 short preludes for organ based on Lutheran hymns that were well-known in Bach's day.
Monroe organists Ann Uresk of Grace Lutheran Church and Deborah Krauss Smith of St. John's United Church of Christ are members of the Madison-based Association of Church Musicians and Madison Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. They will join nine other Madison-area organists in the recital.
The scholarship, known as the Ruth Pilger Andrews Organ Scholarship Fund, was established by ACM in 1996 with a generous bequest from the estate of Ruth Pilger Andrews, a distinguished Madison organist and church musician. Held annually, the fundraising recitals have helped award students of all ages nearly $5,000 for organ lessons, tuition and workshops since 2012.
In addition to being close to the March 21 birthday of J.S. Bach, the recital also coincides with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Even though he was born more than a century after the death of theologian and reformer Martin Luther, Bach was a passionate Lutheran whose beliefs inspired some of the world's finest sacred music.
The public is invited to attend and contribute to the organ scholarship fund through a free-will donation.
This year's fundraising recital is a performance of the complete "Orgelbuchlein" (Little Organ Book) by J.S. Bach, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 1833 Regent St., Madison. The "Orgelbuchlein," most of which was composed from 1708-17, is a collection of 46 short preludes for organ based on Lutheran hymns that were well-known in Bach's day.
Monroe organists Ann Uresk of Grace Lutheran Church and Deborah Krauss Smith of St. John's United Church of Christ are members of the Madison-based Association of Church Musicians and Madison Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. They will join nine other Madison-area organists in the recital.
The scholarship, known as the Ruth Pilger Andrews Organ Scholarship Fund, was established by ACM in 1996 with a generous bequest from the estate of Ruth Pilger Andrews, a distinguished Madison organist and church musician. Held annually, the fundraising recitals have helped award students of all ages nearly $5,000 for organ lessons, tuition and workshops since 2012.
In addition to being close to the March 21 birthday of J.S. Bach, the recital also coincides with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Even though he was born more than a century after the death of theologian and reformer Martin Luther, Bach was a passionate Lutheran whose beliefs inspired some of the world's finest sacred music.
The public is invited to attend and contribute to the organ scholarship fund through a free-will donation.
