America, the Beautiful, A concert of Organ Music

Organist Christian Kreipke, a Livonia native, returns to his home church, St. Paul’s Presbyterian, to present a concert on October 15, 2017, at 3:00 pm. The program, titled America, the Beautiful, will feature mostly American music whose theme Kreipke says is to “celebrate America as the greatest country in the world.”

Though Kreipke now performs mainly as a classical organist, he got his start on the organ as a high school student playing at the Redford Theater. He later studied organ with Ray Ferguson at Wayne State University, and was given the opportunity to study in Cuba where he performed for an audience that included Fidel Castro.

Kreipke is a physician as well as a musician and has traveled extensively throughout the world. “My travels have taught me how fortunate I am to live in America,” Kreipke says. “It really is the greatest country in the world, and I want to reflect that through the music I’ll be playing.”

The program will showcase not only Kreipke’s talents, but also the capabilities of the Rodgers organ the church installed in 1996. This three manual electronic organ was a flagship instrument for the Rodgers Company, and replaced the church’s original vintage Rodgers organ that the company installed in their museum. “This instrument has some great features,” Kreipke notes, “including two 32-foot stops, festival trumpets, and even a theater organ feature,” which he plans to use during the concert.

Kreipke returned to St. Paul’s as organist in March 2017. “We feel so fortunate to have Chris back with us,” says Nola Bonadrini, Chairperson of the Outreach Committee. “We wanted everyone in the community to have an opportunity to hear how wonderful he is, and also to hear our great organ and all it can do in his capable hands!”

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church is located at 27475 Five Mile Road, Livonia. A free will offering will be taken. Audience members are invited to an afterglow following the performance. For more information, contact the church office at 734-422-1470.