Fayette, Ohio — In 2001, Fayette Ohio’s Historic Opera House became the home of a restored 1890’s vintage, three manual Mason & Hamlin Reed Organ. The instrument, one of only a handful remaining worldwide, became the centerpiece of what has became the Glasgow Reed Organ Series, so named after the organ’s restorer, Don Glasgow.
In the decade and a half that has followed, the Glasgow Reed Organ Series has welcomed nationally and internationally acclaimed organists to Fayette to play the Mason & Hamlin Organ as well as others in Glasgow’s Fayette Collection.
During that same period of time the Glasgow Series has benefited from its relationship with another internationally recognized organization, the Conklin Reed Organ Museum located in Hanover, Michigan. This remarkable group, made up of many dedicated volunteers, offer organ restoration workshops and activities that focus on the preservation and display of reed organs and the role they have played throughout our musical history.
“The Conklin Museum and their volunteers have been instrumental in the success that the Fayette Opera House has enjoyed over the past several years with respect to promoting organ music” said Tom Spiess, Director of the Fayette Opera House, and event coordinator. “Their knowledge, dedication and support of our series and the preservation of reed organ music is truly remarkable.”
To celebrate the history of reed organs and their impact on our musical traditions, a tour of the Conklin Museum as well as a trip to neighboring Jackson has been slated for Saturday, May 14th. This will be followed on Sunday, May 15th with a concert in Fayette.
The Saturday event will feature an open house at the Conklin Museum, with workshops and mini tours of the facility, and their collection from 10:00 – noon. The stop will also include a visit to the adjacent Hanover Historical Museum. After lunch in nearby Jackson, the daylong event will continue with a visit to the Armory Arts at 2:00 p.m., the Michigan Theater at 3:30 and an Introductory Informance Concert at Jackson Symphony Hall at 5:00 p.m. This hour long concert will feature Ohio pianist, Lynne Long, Guest Organist Rodney Jantzi as well as representatives of the JSO. Since the Symphony Hall does not have a vintage organ, Mr. Jantzi will perform on a rare 1860 vintage Alexander Harmonium on loan from Fayette’s Glasgow Collection.
The location of the Sunday, May 15th events will move from Southern Michigan to Fayette, Ohio and Fayette’s Historic Opera House.
Events include a Sunday Morning “Worship in Song” from 10:30-11:30 a.m. followed by a noon brunch and a post brunch discussion focusing on the Ann Arbor Organ Works, presented by David D. Murray of Ann Arbor. The three day Bean Creek Festival will culminate with a 2:00 p.m. concert by Jantzi.
As always, a reception for performers and guests will take place following the concert.
For further ticket information, call the Ruth Marlatt @ (419) 237-3061 or the Opera House Box Office at (419) 237-3111, or visit our web site at www.operahouse-fayette.org . Tickets for events will be available at the door for each of the events.
The Fayette Arts Council will introduce Jackson Area music lovers to Organist, Rodney Jantzi who will be performing at the Jackson Symphony Hall on Saturday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m.
The Fayette Arts Council will introduce Jackson Area music lovers to Organist, Rodney Jantzi who will be performing at the Jackson Symphony Hall on Saturday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m.
Jantzi, a native of Ontario Canada, started playing music at age 5 and was competing in organ competitions by the age of 15. The winner of many contests across Canada, he continued to study and expand his skills by learning how to perform on piano as well as organ.
It was while playing a “pump” organ in Northern Ontario that he embraced the rich sounds that were created with this reed instrument. It was during this time that Jantzi learned how to restore reed instrument, a passion that continues to this day. (For those interested, a recording of Jantzi playing his restored reed organ on You-Tube has been viewed by over two million visitors to the site.)
Rodney plays the pipe organ, piano and reed organ for church and, just for fun…..but the reed organ has become his passion. As a result, he has recorded reed organ sound tracks for the television show “Hell on Wheels”, and has recently been requested to provide reed organ soundtracks for the new television series “Houdini & Doyle”, to be premiered in May 2016.
Although Jantzi claims that he is far from having a professional organist status, he loves to share his music, and audiences love him.
Following his Jackson debut, Jantzi will return to the Fayette, Ohio Opera House for a full concert on Sunday, May 15, at 2:00 p.m.
Prominent Northwest Ohio Arts Advocate, pianist and music educator Lynne Long will precede Jantzi with a short mini concert featuring Mozart’s Sonata in C, K. 330: Allegro moderato, Andante Cantabile and Allegretto.
Ms. Long, a graduate of B.G.S.U. in piano performance, maintains a private piano studio in her home near Bowling Green, Ohio. The Long family’s association with the Fayette Opera House and that community’s innovative rural arts initiative began in the early 70’s. Lynne was one of the two founding members of the Fayette Fine Arts Council, served on the executive committee of the organization, was instrumental in the growth of the Council. She has been a member of the Ohio Music Teachers Association for many years, and now serves as secretary of the Wood-Ottawa chapter. She holds a Permanent Professional Certificate from OMTA. Lynne was a charter member of the Grand Rapids (Ohio) Arts Council, and now serves as president of that organization. As a board member of the Grand Rapids Historical Society, she coordinates the summer outdoor musical series, “Rhythm on the River”. In addition to numerous performances that range from classical to ragtime in a variety of venues, she also enjoys being a collaborative pianist at BGSU. She has produced two CD’s of sacred music. Long’s newest venture is providing music for silent movies in three historic opera houses: Pemberville, Grand Rapids, and Fayette.
Tickets for this afternoon event at Jackson’s Orchestra Hall are available at the door or may be reserved by calling (419) 237-3061.
INFORMATION PROVIDED
