Trinity church to continue recital series with organist
The 2004-2005 Recital Series of Trinity United Presbyterian Church will continue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, when Jason J. Keefer presents a concert showcasing the church’s 1951 Austin 3-manual, 46-rank pipe organ. Musical selections will span the organ repertoire from the Baroque to the 20th century including chorale preludes by J.S. Bach, Brahms and Guilmant, as well as Felix Mendelssohn’s dramatic “War March of the Priests.”
Also included will be the popular “Variations on America” by American composer Charles Ives, and arrangements of several familiar hymn tunes. In addition, sacred music intern John Morrison, a graduate student at West Virginia University, will take the bench to perform “Suite Gothique” by Leon Boellmann.
Jason Keefer, a native of the Uniontown area, is music director and organist at Trinity where he conducts the Trinity Singers, adult chancel and bell choirs, and oversees the children’s music program and the Recital Series. He also has a growing piano and organ studio.
In the spring of 2003, Keefer received the master of musical arts degree in sacred music and organ from Duquesne University, where he studied organ with Dr. John Walker. In addition, he studied organ repertoire with Dr. David Craighead and improvisation with Dr. Ann Labounsky. He is a 1999 graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y., with a bachelor of science in music education with organ as his performance instrument.
Keefer’s solo organ and accompanying engagements have taken him throughout the state of New York and into New England. He has also played recitals at Bruton Parish of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., as well as the noon day recital series at the Duquesne University Chapel and more locally at the Asbury United Methodist and Trinity Presbyterian Churches in Uniontown.
The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be received and an informal reception will follow the concert.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of Morgantown and Fayette streets in Uniontown. Ample parking is available across from the church. For more information contact the church at 724-437-2709.