BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — ArtsBridge will celebrate the 40th anniversary of a Gabriel Kney pipe organ in a special organ concert and exhibit with guest organists Perry Heppler and Paul Flyger at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

The concert will be offered at First Presbyterian Church, 475 Green Ave. on Morton Hill in Benton Harbor.

“We are thrilled to have Perry Heppler and Paul Flyger perform on this fabulous pipe organ and make it really sing!” said Pastor Laurie Hartzell.

Some of the music to be performed includes “Fuge in C Major” by Dietrich Buxtehude, “Sonata II” by Paul Hindemith, “American Folk Hymn Suite” by Michael Burkhardt and the “Afro-Cuban In Thee Is Gladness” by Johannes Matthias Michel.

The program will conclude with a joyful “Vivaldi Concerto for Two Trumpets” featuring trumpeters Steve Reed and Keith Geiman with harpsichord accompaniment by Paul Flyger and organ accompaniment by Perry Heppler.

Peyton Hartwig, who is the featured visual artist, will display and sell her digital art. A reception will follow the program in Goff Hall. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For details call (269) 925-7075 or visit on Facebook: First Presbyterian of Benton Harbor.

 

About the organ

The Gabriel Kney that will be on display at ArtsBridge’s most recent event is a tracker action 660-pipe organ. It was designed and built in 1975 by the Gabriel Kney Co. Limited of London, Ontario.

The instrument operates by mechanical action and is thereby known as a tracker organ as opposed to one with electric action. It is among the oldest type of organ building known and uses a method of tone production, which has existed since ancient times. There are two manuals, each representing a small organ of its own, with tonal color providing contrast to each keyboard. This type of instrument is more compact in design with pipes closer together, permitting a better blending of the 10 stops and 16 ranks.

 

About the artist: Perry Heppler

Perry Heppler holds a bachelor of music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey. While at Westminster, Perry studied organ with Donald McDonald and Eugene Roan; he received coaching from the well-known piano accompanist Martin Katz.

Perry has served as organist at the former First Congregational United Church of Christ of Benton Harbor and First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor. He is currently the organist at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ of Lincoln Township. He also teaches organ and Suzuki Method piano.

Perry teaches second grade at Hollywood Elementary School in Lakeshore Public Schools. He has earned Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. He has been a teacher for 37 years, and has taught children from preschool through sixth grade. At Hollywood, Perry has been active in the school garden and has established an after-school reading program at the Spring Lake mobile home community.

Perry and his wife Maria live in Lincoln Township, and are raising three children, aged 9, 10 and 11, who are also musicians.

 

About the artist: Paul Flyger

Paul Flyger holds a bachelor of music and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from Andrews University in Berrien Springs. As an undergraduate student he studied with Dr. C. Warren Becker, and as a graduate student his music mentor was both Dr. C. Warren Becker and Dr. Kenneth Logan.

Some of Paul’s professional experience include these facts: He was principal keyboardist for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra for seven years, he also performed with the Twin Cities Organ Concert Series, and he taught piano lessons and music classes at Lake Michigan College for 13 years. He maintains a private piano studio that includes students of all ages.

Paul also serves as the Director of Music Ministry at First Congregational Church in St. Joseph. Performing as the organist since1993, Paul also works with the Chancel Choir, the Junior Choir and directs three Handbell Choirs.

Now at home in St. Joseph, Paul was born and raised in South Dakota and has spent much time in Arizona, Utah, and northern California.

 

About the artist: Peyton Hartwig

Peyton Hartwig is a Junior at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids where she is majoring in animation and comic design. She is inspired by the work of Edward Hopper, Jack Vettriano, David Mazzucchelli, and Mick Gray.

Although Peyton works primarily with digital, she also loves experimenting with other mediums like graphite, paint, and glass. Peyton began drawing at an early age, but she really got into it when she was in middle school. At that time, Peyton was drawing Japanese Anime, but since then she has grown to love realism.

Peyton won the best Emerging Artist prize for a drawing of a woman with wildly colored hair known as Specular Configuration at this year’s Chalk the Block event held in downtown St. Joseph. “My love of Disney movies has influenced me to pursue animation.”