“Summer
Keyboard Concert” This Sunday
Mark Thallander is set to play the 1877 Ricker pipe
organ at the First Congregational Church of Pittsfield this
Sunday.
The First Congregational Church, 24
Main St., Pittsfield, will welcome back Mark Thallander this
Sunday. His friends, Glenda Winkle-Morrow and Kathy Haley, will
join him for a spectacular concert playing the one-of-a-kind
1877 Wilson W. Ricker organ, boasting 564 pipes, and Hallet &
Davis grand piano. The free concert will take place Sunday,
August 28, 6 p.m. A love offering will be received.
Earlier in the day, Mark and Glenda
will provide music for the Sunday morning worship service
beginning at 10 a.m. Glenda Winkle-Morrow is Professor Emeritus
of Music, Central Bible College, Springfield, Mo. and was Mark’s
piano professor.
Winkle-Morrow has served as pianist,
organist and choir director in churches in Southwest Missouri
since the age of 7. In addition to composing and arranging music
for piano, organ and choir, she continues to serve in area
churches and perform in concerts.
Kathy Haley is a lifelong musician
from Auburn, Me. beginning her music career when she was only 13
serving as a church organist, choral accompanist, and pianist
for many local musical theater productions. After studying music
at the University of Southern Maine she added professional
singer to her résumé. She currently serves in Auburn as the
organist and choir director for the Court Street Baptist Church
and accompanist for the choral music program at Edward Little
High School, Auburn.
During the summer of 2003, Mark was
involved in a terrible car accident that crushed his left arm
leaving him in critical condition. Although he told the doctors
he was an organist, they could not save his arm, but they saved
his life with transfusions replacing 70 percent of his blood.
Through the use of his right arm and
remarkable footwork on the organ’s pedalboard, he achieves great
success. In his book, Champions…Plus, Mark credits the prayers
of his family and friends for his recovery. “God used the love
and prayers of thousands of people to encourage me in a way I
never dreamed possible.”
A few months later he returned to the
organ realizing that his phenomenal recovery had begun. To read
more about Mark and his foundation, consult his website:
markthallander.com.
Plan on attending the church service
at 10 a.m. and concert at 6 p.m. this coming Sunday. Meet Mark,
Glenda and Kathy and hear the church organ and piano played like
never before!
Parking and wheelchair accessible
entry are located at rear of church building at Chestnut Street.
For more information, call the church office, 603 435-7471.