2009 Summer Organ Concert Series
First Parish Church, UCC in Brunswick Maine is pleased to announce its 24th Annual Summer Organ Concert Series. Beginning Tuesday, July 14 and continuing through August 18, this weekly series of six noontime concerts will feature local and national organists. All concerts will be on the church's 1883 Hutchings, Plaisted & Company pipe organ, which was recently restored by the Andover Organ Company of Methuen, Massachusetts. All concerts begin at 12:10 pm and will last approximately 40 minutes.

The fine roster of concerts includes:

  • Ray Cornils, Minister of Music at First Parish Church UCC in Brunswick and Portland Municipal Organist on July 14;
  • Harold Stover, Organist and Choir Director at Woodford's Congregational Church in Portland on July 21;
  • Ann Hartzler, Organist of the Midcoast Presbyterian Church in Topsham, Maine on July 28;
  • Edward Alan Moore, Director of Music Ministries at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church in McLean, Virginia, on August 4;
  • Katelyn Emerson, a very talented high school organist from York, Maine on August 11;
  • Clarissa Brown, organist and choir director of the Elijah Kellogg Church in Harpswell, Maine on August 18.

    First Parish Church in Brunswick completed a major restoration of the church and tower in 2003. During this time the Andover Organ Company of Methuen Massachusetts performed major restoration work which included a complete overhaul of the mechanical playing action, repairs to the wind chests which had water damage due to leaks in the tower, complete tonal finishing of every pipe in the instrument, and the addition of two ranks of pipes to the organ. The Hutchings/Plaisted Organ Company of Boston, one of the nation?s foremost organ builders in the late 19th century, originally built the organ in 1883. They also built organs for Yale University, Wellesley College, Mt. Holyoke College, Vassar College, Brown University, St. Paul's School, Exeter Academy and Boston's Symphony Hall, Old South Church and Church of the Advent.

    All concerts are open to the public. Admission is by donation at the door, $5.00 suggested. First Parish Church is located on Maine Street at Bath Road (next to Bowdoin College) in Brunswick. A tour of the historic building will follow each concert. For more information, please call 207-729-7331.