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 From the Saint Paul Lutheran Church Concert Committee

St Paul Hosted AGO Regional Concert, featuring an Organ work Premiere!

The St Paul Concert Committee (a sub-committee of Worship & Music) thanks everyone who volunteered and supported the unique organ concert on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:30 pm in the afternoon. We were selected for this concert as part of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) Southeastern Convention. The 45 minute concert included the premiere of an organ work commissioned by the AGO Augusta/Aiken Chapter for this convention, written by a well known regional composer, Dr. William H. Bates, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina.

 Based on New Britain, the hymn tune for "Amazing Grace", the commissioned work for Pipe Organ and Violin was composed to be performed on our Pipe Organ at St Paul, Casavant, Opus 3728. (1998) The Commissioned Work is a significant work that is sponsored by the family of and dedicated in memory to Dale Hesse, an area Lutheran organist & AGO member. (d. September, 2022)

 The Concert Artists were Charles Tompkins, Organ Professor at Furman University (one of America's most outstanding organ teachers/performers) and son Kevin Tompkins, violinist and member of the Omaha Symphony, and faculty member at the Omaha Conservatory of Music.  

 Attended by the Southeastern AGO Convention attenders, St Paul members and members of the Aiken community, many enjoyed this opportunity to hear the organist and violinist bring such beautiful music to our Nave! Many thanks to the AGO Convention Committee and their Chair Keith Shafer, and to Charles & Kevin Tompkins for the wonderful concert! 

 








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