Alumnus to Present Organ Concert

Jason Kissel, a 1997 Westminster College graduate, will present an organ concert Tuesday, July 10, at 8 p.m. in the Mary Mother of Hope Church in New Castle. The concert is free and open to the public.

Kissel, who is organist of the First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, is the featured organist for the Westminster Conference on Worship and Music, hosted on the college campus July 8-13.

The music selected for this concert relates to the theme of the Pennsylvania Association of Musicians conference, celebrating the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost. Included are: "Fanfare" by Alec Wyton; "Prelude and Fugue in D Major" by J. S. Bach; "Resurrection" by Larry King; "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" by George Shearing; and "Allegro," "Adagio," and "Toccata" from Symphony V by C. M. Widor.

The organ at Mary Mother of Hope Church is a recently installed Wicks pipe organ of 57 ranks.

Kissel holds a master of music degree from Duquesne University and was recently awarded a doctor of music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He has studied under John Walker and Donald Sutherland. While a student at Westminster, Kissel was organist for New Wilmington Presbyterian Church. While at Duquesne, he was the organ scholar and associate organist at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. He has won several competitions sponsored by the American Guild of Organists.

Contact Raymond H. Ocock, Westminster College professor of music emeritus, at (724) 946-8047 or e-mail rhocock@roadrunner.com for additional information.

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