Organ recital for University of Montana students

A University of Montana student organ recital is Sunday, April 27, at 4 p.m. at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers. 

Organ students of Nancy Cooper, including Laura Jaquette, Marion Min, Sean Brogan, Laura Matzke, and Megan Meadows, will be performing works by Bach, Haydn, Vierne, Brahms, and von Paradis. There will also be works that include flute, oboe, and trumpet. 

The organ in Eidsvold Lutheran has its own interesting history. It was built by Thomas A. Whalley and J.E. Genung of Oakland, Calif., in 1888 for the chapel of Grace Episcopal Church in San Francisco and is the largest surviving pipe organ by this builder.  The instrument was donated originally by William Randolph Hearst in honor of his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst.  It survived the earthquake and fire in 1906. 

It was later given to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in San Luis Obispo by Phoebe Hearst, where it remained until 1964 when it was purchased by a private party and set up at the San Diego County Fairgrounds for a special exhibition.  In 1966 it was restored and installed in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Del Mar, Calif., where it remained until 1980.  In 1981 the organ was purchased by Eidsvold Lutheran.

An offering will be taken to benefit the organ maintenance fund. Refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the concert. For more information, please call 857-3529.

Eidsvold Lutheran Church is located at 5935 U.S. 93 South in Somers.