Olivet Nazarene University invites you to experience the glory of the Ruffatti pipe organ during The Ovid Young Memorial Organ Recital Series. Those who attend will be able to hear from five accomplished musicians.
The fall 2019 concerts will take place in the Betty and Kenneth Hawkins Centennial Chapel on Olivet’s campus. Performances will take place on October 7 and October 21 at noon, and October 25 at 3:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for these concerts.
The performance schedule and guest musicians are:
Monday, October 7, 2019, noon—Kavin Sampson
Mr. Sampson has been involved with music activities in the greater Kankakee area for over 40 years. He grew up in Austin, Minnesota where he showed an early interest in music. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance from Northwestern University. He has served as music director at Asbury United Methodist Church, Kankakee since 2005, and since 2007 he has also assisted at St. Anne parish. In addition to church music, he has also been involved with Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Kankakee Valley Theater and River Valley Wind Ensemble, playing clarinet, oboe, bassoon, contra bassoon and piano as needed.
Monday, October 21, 2019, noon—Rhonda Edgington and Brian Reichenbach
Ms. Edginton is a creative and eclectic musician with a diverse repertoire and wide range of musical interests. She has a master’s degree in organ from Indiana University, a bachelor’s degree in piano from Wheaton College (Illinois), and a diploma in organ performance from the Hochschule für Künste/University of the Arts in Bremen, Germany. She is currently the dean of the Holland, Michigan chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Rhonda lives with her family in Holland Michigan where she is the organist at Hope Church, a staff accompanist at Hope College, Seminary Organist at Western Theological Seminary and maintains a private studio while continuing to perform regularly in the US and abroad.
Mr. Reichenbach performs throughout the Chicago area and is an assistant professor of music at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, where he directs the Symphonic Band and teaches trumpet. Prior to his position at Trinity, he also taught trumpet at Olivet. Brian is a member of the Elmhurst Symphony and has performed under major conductors with several esteemed ensembles. He holds degrees from Wheaton College and DePaul University, as well as a DMA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He appears regularly as a clinician at Chicago area middle and high schools.
Friday, October 25, 2019 3:30 p.m.— Dr. Jane Holstein and Joel Raney
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 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.
Mr. Raney is a working composer and musician who graduated from The Juilliard School with a master’s degree in piano performance. He is influenced by many stylings from old hymns to Broadway musicals and jazz. Mr. Raney applies his lifetime love of music to the creation of music. His hundreds of titles in print with numerous publishers cover choral anthems and instrumental music for every church occasion.
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.
For more information about this recital series go to olivet.edu/events.
Published 9/27/19
