By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University School of Music is launching a new Tuesday Noontime Organ Recital Series to feature the organ in Ransdell Chapel, according to Dr. Wesley Roberts, professor of music, who will be the first organist.
The sessions begin Sept. 23, and each program will be approximately 30 minutes in length beginning at 12:05 p.m. and ending at 12:35 p.m.
Roberts, who will present the first concert, has been teaching courses in piano and musicology, since he joined Campbellsville University’s faculty in 1982. He has presented concerts as pianist and organist throughout the United States, in Europe and in Asia, including programs in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Lyon, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, Zurich and Shanghai.
Roberts said the other scheduled organists include:
Oct. 14 – Philip Hines, organist, Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Louisville, Ky., with Dr. Reese Land, assistant professor of music/trumpet at CU, on trumpet;
Nov. 11 – Clif Cason, director of music, Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Ky.;
Feb. 3, 2009 – David Doran, professor of music emeritus, Jefferson Community College, Louisville, Ky.;
March 3, 2009 – Melvin Dickinson, professor of organ emeritus, University of Louisville, Louisville;
April 14, 2009 – Dr. Wesley Roberts, with the faculty from the School of Music, professor of music at CU.
Roberts said the series is designed to “provide an opportunity for those in the community to hear outstanding organists and our prized instrument in short concert programs during their lunch break.”
The organ played a significant historical role in church music and has generally been the leading instrument for congregation singing in recent centuries, Roberts said.
“Our rebuilt and refurbished 1894 Farrand and Votey pipe organ in Ransdell Chapel is a prized possession which was used for over a century in Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville and is now used on campus for chapel service, special events and concerts in Ransdell Chapel,” he said.
It is a 51-rank, three-manual instrument with over 3,000 pipes. It was installed at Campbellsville University in early 2007 in time for the dedication of the Ransdell Chapel April 18, 2007.
The organ was formally dedicated in a recital by Nevalyn Moore, assistant professor of music at CU, who retired this year.
Each organ recital is open to the public at no charge.
For more information, contact the School of Music at (270) 789-5237 or music@campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 36 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.