"When you ask 'how awesome' it will be to have him here, I would say that on a scale of 1-10, I'm at an 11." Rev. Christopher McCreight
Pipe up and listen: a renowned music school director will hold an organ recital at Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon this Saturday.
The director, John Dixon, will perform for an hour starting 3:30 p.m., with a light reception following afterward as part of the church’s Community Concert Series.
“When you ask how awesome it will be to have him here, I would say that on a scale of 1-10, I’m at an 11,” said Pastor Christopher McCreight. “It is always a joy, though, to invite an organist to the area and open our doors to welcome the community in to receive such elegant music.
Dixon was born in England in 1957 and moved to Virginia Beach in 1988. Although he has degrees in business and engineering, music has been an important part of his life, according to a Pilgrim Church press release.
Dixon is the organist and composer-in-residence at Providence Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. He also serves as executive director of The Academy of Music, a nonprofit community music school in Norfolk, Va.
He now has 500 compositions to his credit and his music has been performed around the world, from America to Europe to Australia, according to the release.
“He will be playing on our beautiful Holtkamp pipe organ,” said publicity chairman Steve Wick.
McCreight said the entire congregation is excited to welcome Dixon to the church, located at 202 S. Hambden St.
“John Dixon has not only mastered the organ, but also regularly composes music for everything from the organ to handbells,” he added.
The pipe organ, built and installed in the early 1990s, serves the congregation — led by organist Ann Doersam — each week.
The pastor said the organ, which rests in the sanctuary of the church, is a “truly special” gift, calling it a blessed reminder of what “we can do when we come together.”
The inclusion of the organ came to be when congregation members and friends alike decided music was too important and too critical to approach it lightly in a church setting.
The congregation then asked the Holtkamp company to construct the organ, pipe by pipe.
“Now, the joy that comes from it is in the sharing of music,” McCreight said. “We need to be better about sharing this gift of music and our Community Concert Series is an attempt to do just that.”
Wick said he felt the organ doesn’t get shown off as often as the church would like. In the past, the church used to have organ concerts on a regular basis.
“Although we haven’t had one in years, we’re hoping to start that up again,” he said. “It’s not a grand organ in terms of size, but it’s got a beautiful sound. To a fault, the various organists that visited our church and played it all said they admired it.”
The pastor said he can’t wait for the upcoming concert.
“It will be truly exceptional to hear Mr. Dixon offer a repertoire of many of his own compositions this Saturday,” McCreight said.
