AUBURN — Mark Thallander is no stranger to area music lovers, having performed several times on organs in the area. This time he is bringing fellow musician Peter Green to a joint performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at Court Street Baptist Church, 129 Court St.
The two musicians, at times, will use the organ console and the grand piano keyboard. Other selections in the program will feature both at the organ, using the full range of the church organ’s 1,600 pipes. Many of the program selections will be popular and well-known pieces from Christian classics.
Many of Thallander’s performances are organized and sponsored by the Mark Thallander Foundation. In addition, he composes, conducts and teaches throughout the nation. He has enthusiastically accompanied several very large festival choirs. For 18 years, Thallander served as the organist at the famed Crystal Cathedral in California and has served as organist at several other churches.
His recordings include choral works as well as keyboard compositions. An endowed organ scholarship in his honor has been established at Vanguard University, his alma mater. His master’s degree is from Cal-State University, Long Beach.
Although a native of Newfoundland, Green earned a doctorate in musical arts at the University of Southern California. His artistry is as broad as Thallander’s. Green has won piano competitions and has given solo and collaborative performances across the country, serving as the current chair of visual and performing arts at Glendale College in California. There he directs choirs and serves on boards, such as the National Association of Church Musicians and the Thallander Foundation.
In California, Hawaii and Vienna, Austria, Green has directed the Thallander Foundation Chorus, in addition to giving recitals across North America.
The Summer Keyboard Concert at Court Street Baptist will be preceded by a meal at 5:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. No-cost tickets are required for the meal.
Music lovers may attend either or both the meal and keyboard concert.
The meal features a nourishing array of dishes with musical names of historical keyboard composers and performers, such as “E. Power Biggs 4-Bean Salad,” “Bach Taco Salad,” and “Brahms Broccoli Salad.” Desserts include “Jelly Roll Morton Bars” and “Van Cliburn Cookies.”
The keyboard concert requires no ticket. Free-will donations will be accepted. A brief “meet the artists” event will occur between the meal and the concert. At that time, CD recordings will be available for purchase.
Meal tickets may be reserved at the Court Street Baptist Church office, Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 207-784-6661.
PHOTO: Peter Green, left, and Mark Thallander at a grand pipe organ console. (Submitted photo)
