First Presbyterian Church of Maumee will begin its second season of the First Pres Maumee Afternoon Recital Series on Thursday, October 20. An organ program, featuring George Blackney, will begin at 1 p.m.
Mr. Blackney will present an organ recital entitled “Eclectricity.” Musical selections will be introduced with poetic quips and information. The program will include works by Peterson, Bach, Bédard, Broughton and Vaughan Williams, and will conclude with audience participation in “The Revival March” by John Phillip Sousa.
Mr. Blackney hails from Flint, Michigan, where he began his early piano instruction with Alice Thompson and Arthur Vanadia, and organ instruction with Duane Sutton.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in music from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana, with organ instructions from John Eagan and Theophane Hytrek. He then received his master of music in organ performance at the Eastman School of Music, studying under Russel Saunders and David Craighead.
Believing in full-time church employment, Mr. Blackney began his service as liturgist, organist, director of children’s choirs and bell choirs in Whiting, Indiana; Lansing, Michigan, and Willmar and Golden Valley, Minnesota.
He and his wife Marilyn now reside in Perrysburg, where they are active members of St. Rose Parish.
The recital is free and will have a duration of approximately 60 minutes. All are welcome to attend.
The series will be held on the third Thursday of each month into spring of 2023.
For more information, visit firstpresmaumee.org or call 419-893-0223.
