St. Paul, Grafton, Organ Dedication Concert
After two phases over 14 years, St. Paul Lutheran Church at 701 Washington St. in Grafton, WI is dedicating their organ with a free Dedication Concert Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7pm.
Installed by Brook Falls Organ & Piano Company of West Bend, WI, it is an Allen Combination Pipe & Digital Organ which includes 80 pull stops which can play 320 digital sounds and 23 rocker stops for about 17 ranks of pipes. The failing Verlinden pipe organ was replaced in 2007 by the digital Allen console and speakers. A second phase was always planned to add more pipes to the seven ranks which were kept. A renovation of the sanctuary and raising funds delayed the completion of phase two until 2019.
The completed organ will be dedicated at the evening’s worship service followed by the Dedication Concert. An appetizer buffet will be served between worship and the concert. The concert will feature national award-winning recitalist, Dr. Brenda (Heck) Portman and includes St. Paul’s Handbell Choir which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
A daughter of the congregation, Dr. Portman was a Finalist and Audience Prize winner in the Sursa American Organ Competition at Ball State University in 2016. She also composes sacred choral, vocal, and organ works and has won several recent composition awards. She has been commissioned to write a new solo work for the 2020 American Guild of Organists (AGO) convention. This concert will debut her arrangement of the hymn Alleluia! Sing to Jesus for congregation, choir, and brass.
Celebrate with us in worship, fellowship, and song on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Contact music@splgrafton.org with any questions.
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