By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Mark Walker, assistant conductor of the Louisville Bach Society and director of music and organist for Saint Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church, will perform in Campbellsville University’s Noontime Organ Recital Series Tuesday, March 3, in the Ransdell Chapel.
Walker will perform at 12:20 p.m. for a 30-minute concert ending at 12:50 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.
Walker will be performing works by Soler, J.S. Bach, Biery, Albright and Weaver.
A Kentucky native, Walker has performed extensively throughout the Eastern United States, recently playing recitals in Raleigh, N.C.; Lynchburg, Va.; Williamsburg, Va., (Bruton Parish); Princeton, N.J.; New Brunswick, N.J. (Christ Episcopal Church); Nashville, Tenn. (Saint George’s Episcopal Church); Bowling Green, Ky.; Washington, D.C. (National City Christian Church); Birmingham, Ala. (Saint Paul’s Cathedral –R.C.); and Atlanta, Ga. (Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip).
He will graduate from East Carolina University in May, completing his master’s degree in organ performance. His organ teachers have included Janette Fishell, Wilma Jensen, Melvin Dickinson and Shirley Karrick.
He is the husband of soprano Selena Walker, and they have two children, Austin and Emma Walker.
Dr. Wesley Roberts, professor of music at CU, 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.
Roberts will be performing the last recital of the spring April 14, along with other members of the music faculty.
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 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 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.