AGO Organ Recital at Messiah Lutheran at Noon on April 9th

The console of Messiah Lutheran's  newly installed pipe organ
(Photo / illustration by Meredith Kilby)

The local AGO (American Guild of Organists) will be presenting an organ concert on Thursday, April 9th at 12:00 Noon at Messiah Lutheran Church, 7740 Hwy 72 West in Madison, Alabama.

Organists Susan Fletcher and Mary Williamson will be the recitalists.

Messiah's pipe organ is just into its first full year of enhancing the worship and music ministries at Messiah Lutheran Church. The church was built in 1993 and a pipe organ was installed shortly thereafter, but a 2011 sanctuary expansion necessitated the need for a larger instrument to be located.  The Organ Search Committee sought an instrument that would not only support Messiah's worship services but also serve as a quality performance and recital organ for the community and the newly formed Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.  After an extensive search and intensive build process during the summer of 2014,  Messiah dedicated the organ on October 26th, 2014 and held its first recital. 

The organ features over 800 pipes and is located within the upper level of the east transept of the choir area.  This custom built, refurbished organ was designed by Miller Pipe Organ Services with the rich textures of a solid foundation, adding tonal variety and color with reeds and mixtures.  The fine workmanship of the organ builders and the acoustics of the sanctuary combine to give the pipe organ a lively presence and glorious sound.

The event is presented by local American Guild of Organists members, in coordination with Lois Graff, who is the Organist and Director of Music at Messiah Lutheran Church.  Lois also serves on the board of the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.

The April 9th concert was originally scheduled March 5th as part of a noontime organ recital series during the Lenten season, but was cancelled due to wintry weather.

The concert is free and all are welcome to attend! 

Countdown to First Concert of 2015. Debra Saylor - January 11th at 4 PM.

Solo Piano Concert, "Piano at Twilight" Sunday January 11th at 4 PM.

The Music at Messiah Classical Concert series extends Happy New Year blessings to all followers and friends,  and look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming January 11th  at 4 PM concert which features the extraordinary talent of pianist Debra Saylor.

Debra will be interviewed live on classical radio station WLRH this coming Friday, January 9th at 11:00 a.m. by regular morning host Ginny Kennedy.  WLRH can be found at FM/HD 89.3 or by listening online at http://www.wlrh.org/  

Saylor, a finalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for amateurs in 2000, took third place for her awe-inspiring performance of Debussy's Claire de Lune. Fellow Van Cliburn competitor Carl Tait described her semi-final performance in this entry from his March 2001 blog post as follows.

"The most memorable pianist of the entire competition made her first appearance at 4:15 that afternoon. Steve Cumming introduced Debra Saylor without fanfare, in much the same genially professional way he introduced all of us. We saw the long white cane first. There was a collective gasp. Debra Saylor was blind. Shea made her way to the piano bench with surprising speed and adjusted it quickly with well-practiced motions. She spread her arms widely across the keyboard several times to judge both height and proximity. My mind was awash in conflicting emotions. This was remarkable, brave, commendable - but would it be any good?

Debra began with Schubert's familiar Moment Musical in F minor. It was good. Very good. I was smiling within seconds. The performance had a cheerful Viennese lilt and real charm. Next came Debussy's Clair de lune, for which no one was prepared, or could have been prepared. Debussy's overplayed work, mutilated by several generations of piano students over the past century, glowed to new life in Debra's hands. Her tone was warm and deep, her legato singing, her phrasing impeccable, her pianissimos infinitely shaded. Anyone who claims not to have been in tears by the end is probably lying. It was one of those revelatory performances in which one feels the composer's ideas fusing with the artistry of a gifted pianist."

Titled "Piano at Twilight" attendees can expect Saylor's artistry on the piano to fill Messiah Lutheran' Church's recently expanded sancturay with piano works written by the world's finest composers.  It is sure to inspire and move audiences of all ages.  Oh and be warned, Debussy's Claire de Lune is on the program so you might want to grab a few tissues before you arrive!

Here's a wonderful performance by Debra from a later Van Cliburn competition.   We truly are blessed to have this wonderful musician perform a concert with the Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.

Solar Winds "A European Tour" Concert Tomorrow at 4 PM

Solar Winds: Woodwind Quintet Concert this Sunday

Final preparations have been made for the first concert of the second season of Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series.

Sunday's concert features 'Solar Winds', a woodwind quintet comprised of five musicians from the US Army Materiel Command Band at Redstone Arsenal.

The quintet rehearsed Friday afternoon at Messiah Lutheran Church the pieces they will be presenting Sunday, September 21st. They familiarized themselves with the stage and the captivating acoustics of the sanctuary when filled with rich, beautiful sound.  Here's a sneak peek, an excerpt from the Rondo of Beethoven's Op 71.   

The Music at Messiah Classical Concert Series is delighted to feature this talented ensemble.  Oboeist Staff Seargeant Katherine Beyer leads the 'Solar Winds' quintet, and remarked that playing the Concert Series is a terrific opportunity for them to rehearse and perform classical music that's a bit outside of the typical military band repertoire.

SSG Beyer has only recently moved to the Huntsville area and gave high praise for the Madison/Huntsville area having an abundant offerings to enjoy great music.

We sincerely hope that you take this Sunday's opportunity to enjoy great music performed beautifully in a space so suited for small chamber ensembles such as 'Solar Winds'