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Organ recital at Monroe UMC Oct. 3
organ
Pictured here as a young student organist, Ruth Pilger Andrews (1905-1996) is the namesake of an organ study scholarship fund for which a benefit organ recital will be presented on October 3 at the United Methodist Church of Monroe.

MONROE — Members of the Madison-based Association of Church Musicians (ACM) and the Madison Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) will be presenting a public organ recital on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Monroe, 2227 4th St.

The annual event raises funds for the Ruth Pilger Andrews Organ Scholarship Fund, and each year is held at a different ACM-member church. This is the first year it is being held in Monroe. The United Methodist Church houses a 3-manual, 39-rank organ built in 2001/2002 by Berghaus Pipe Organ Builders of Bellwood, Ill.

Ruth Pilger Andrews was a distinguished Madison organist, well-known teacher, and founding member of the Madison Chapter AGO. With a generous bequest from her estate, the Ruth Pilger Andrews Organ Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 by the ACM/Madison Chapter AGO. Since that time, additional donations to the fund have been accepted and annual concerts have been held to augment the endowment. Scholarship applications are accepted on a quarterly basis from Wisconsinites of all ages who wish to study organ through private lessons, by attending seminars and workshops, or college tuition for organ study.

The hour-long program will feature a variety of pieces played by eight organists, several of whom are familiar to Monroe audiences, including Monroe organist Deborah Krauss Smith, organist/violinist Robert Eversman, and Ann Uresk, organist/music director at Grace Lutheran Church in Monroe. They will be joined by Dr. Andrew Schaeffer, organist/music director at Luther Memorial Church, Madison; Dr. Don Horisberger of New Glarus, retired associate conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and organist/music director at the Church of the Holy Spirit Episcopal in Lake Forest, Ill.; Dr. Max Yount, Emeritus Professor and former Chair of the Department of Music at Beloit College, and organist/music director at First Congregational in Beloit; Donald DeBruin, organist/music director at First Congregational UCC in Madison; and Paul Finger of Madison.

Established in 1986, the Association of Church Musicians is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes and supports musicians in churches throughout south-central Wisconsin, with churches as well as individuals being members. It also serves a dual role as the Madison Chapter of American Guild of Organists, which was chartered in 1953. In Monroe, the United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Church, and St. John’s UCC are charter members of ACM.

A free-will donation will be accepted at the recital for the Ruth Pilger Andrews Organ Scholarship Fund. Due to the ongoing pandemic, for the safety of both the audience and the performers, face masks will be required. The church is handicapped-accessible, with ample room in the sanctuary for distancing as needed. More info is available at www.MadisonACM.org.