Karen Black organ concert to celebrate Batavia church sesquicentennial

BATAVIA – As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations in 2022, Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia will present an organ concert featuring Karen Black playing the church’s Aeolian-Skinner organ at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5.

A free-will offering will be taken at the church at 8 S. Lincoln St., and a reception will follow the performance.

In addition to the concert, Black will hold a master class the morning of March 5 for members of the American Guild of Organists and local church organists.

Black is a renowned organist, composer, conductor and Rudi Inselmann Endowed Professor of Organ at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, a news release stated. She holds a bachelor of music degree in church music from St. Olaf College, a master of music degree in organ and church music from Indiana University, and a doctor of music degree in organ performance and literature from Indiana University.

She is active as a recitalist and clinician, and has performed throughout the United States. Black also has given organ recitals in Germany, including at the Castle Church in Wittenburg, and St. George’s Church in Eisenach. Recent organ performances include a recital for the North Central Regional Conference of the American Guild of Organists, at St. Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta, and at Iowa State University.

Black serves as North Central Regional Councilor of the AGO. She has served as Dean of the Cedar Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and as Region III President of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and also is an active member of the Organ Historical Society and ACDA.

For more information, call the church at 630-879-3444. Visit www.bethanybatavia.org/bethany-news.html.