Church of the Gesu
presents
DR. JOHN SHERER, organ
Organist of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:30 pm
Church of the Gesu
1145 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
Freewill Offering
For parking information, go to gesuparish.org and click on the Parking link on the home page
A Concert to Commemorate the 100thAnniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic
Music of 1912
Imperial March – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
arr. George C. Martin
Elegy – Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
Solemn Melody – H. Walford Davies (1869-1941)
Coronation March – Edward Elgar
arr. A. Herbert Brewer
Music Heard on Board the Titanic
*Hymn “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”
El Capitan – John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
arr. Martin Setchell
Elite Syncopations – Scott Joplin (1868-1917)
arr. E. Power Biggs
Londonderry Air – Irish folk song
arr. Edwin H. Lemare
“Barcarolle” from The Tales of Hoffman – Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880)
arr. Edwin H. Lemare
*Hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”
Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
arr. John W. W. Sherer
Music to Honor Those Lost From the Titanic
In Memoriam – Joseph Bonnet (1884-1944)
Symphonic Improvisation on “Nearer My God to Thee” – Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)
*Hymn “Nearer My God to Thee”
*(Please stand as you are able)
An event of catastrophic proportions in the history of the United States, the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic, will be commemorated during its one-hundredth anniversary year by guest artist, Dr. John Sherer, in this concert on Gesu Church's Schantz pipe organ. This engaging program will feature music of 1912, music heard on board the ship, and music written to honor the victims of the disaster.
Since 1996, Dr. Sherer, has been the Organist and Director of Music for the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where 2,000 people worship each Sunday. This dynamic church has a 126-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ; nine choirs and instrumental groups, including The Morning Choir; a twenty-six voice professional ensemble; and Tower Brass, a professional octet. Dr. Sherer manages an active concert series at the church with over eighty events each year. In addition to his work at Fourth Presbyterian Church, he is a frequent guest conductor with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, has done numerous lectures and clinics on church music, and is a published author and composer. He is also active in professional organizations including the Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, where he serves on the board of directors, and the American Choral Directors Association Central Division, where he is chair of Repertoire and Standards for Music in Worship.
Dr. Sherer has performed numerous recitals throughout the United States and England, including several for regional and national organist conventions. Among the many plaudits he has received are those from critics who have acclaimed his "virtuoso technique and his sensitive musical sense to serve the requirements of the music," his "stimulating and captivating" programming, and his personal qualities of being "an excellent communicator and a charming person." Dr. Sherer received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School in New York City. He earned two master's degrees at Yale University, with majors in organ performance, and art in religion. He also earned two bachelor's degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, in organ performance, and in choral music education. A native of Xenia, Ohio, Dr. Sherer is married to the Reverend Kara Wagner, an Episcopal priest; they have two daughters, Madeleine and Carlisle. Among his avocational interests is anything related to the R.M.S. Titanic.
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