Olivet Nazarene University invites you to experience the majesty of the Ruffatti pipe organ played by three accomplished performers. The spring 2019 performances in the Ovid Young Memorial Organ Recital Series are March 25, April 1, and April 8, noon to 1 p.m. All performances are in the Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel on Olivet’s campus. There is no admission charge for these concerts.
The performance schedule and guest organists are:
Monday, March 25, 2019, 12 noon to 1 p.m. — Marianne Kim
Ms. Kim is a Chicago-based composer, pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, noted for her vibrant performances and compositions in a wide diversity of styles, such as classical, jazz, Broadway musical, R&B, gospel, and traditional & contemporary church music. Born and raised in Busan, Korea, Marianne studied piano and composition at Pusan High School of Arts, earned a bachelor’s of music degree in composition at Pusan National University, and dual master’s of music degrees in jazz studies and organ performance from Northern Illinois University. She has worked for the Lakeside Singers, served as keyboardist at Willow Creek Community Church and the Moody Church, and been a principal organist for Christ Church of Oak Brook, IL since September 2018. Marianne has published over 200 titles for piano, organ, choral, and other instruments through major publishers and has received critical acclaim for her compositions.
Monday, April 1, 2019, 12 noon to 1 p.m. — Matt Gerhard
Mr. Gerhard serves as the Director of Music at Kokomo Zion United Methodist Church, Choral Assistant at Northwestern MS/HS, and teaches private piano. Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in church music from Olivet Nazarene University (2008) and a master’s degree in choral conducting (studying with Dr. Gary Bonner) from California Baptist University (2010). He studied classical and church organ with Rev. William H. Brown, Dr. Timothy Nelson, and Dr. Beverly Howard and he studied piano with Amy Shumway and Dr. Gerald Anderson. As a recitalist, Matt has performed regularly for notable institutions throughout the Midwest and is an active member of the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.
Monday, April 8, 2019, 12 noon to 1 p.m. — Dr. Jane Holstein, piano/organ, and Elizabeth Harrison, soprano
Dr. Holstein is the music editor at Hope Publishing. She studied organ at Olivet with Dr. Nelson, and also at The University of Kansas and Northwestern University. Recently, she compiled Hymns of Praise, a new book of 200 hymns and songs. She stays busy as an arranger, clinician, organist, worship planner, grandmother of two and concert artist. She also serves as director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, Illinois.
Ms. Harrison is an artist recognized for her work as a concert performer, recitalist, opera and oratorio singer. In 2007, she made her debut as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in their presentation of Wynton Marsalis’ “All Rise.” She has performed across the country with various opera companies and at festivals. Also an active recitalist, she performs African-American spirituals throughout Chicagoland.
This recital series honors the memory and musical career of Dr. Ovid Young, who passed away in 2014. An Olivet alumnus, he is remembered by many as a beloved performer, teacher, mentor and colleague. A pianist, organist, composer and conductor, Dr. Young had to his credit more than 7,000 performances in major concert halls, churches and colleges around the world.
Olivet’s Ruffatti pipe organ — custom built and installed by Famiglia Artigiana Fratelli Ruffatti (Ruffatti Brothers, Family of Artisans) of Padua, Italy, and Marshall & Ogletree of Boston — features a four-manual console and a concave pedal board with 32 notes. It has 125 ranks: 75 ranks of wind-blown pipes and a digital component of 50 additional ranks.
For more information, go to olivet.edu/events.
Published 3/4/2019
