The University of Florida’s Andrew Anderson Memorial Pipe Organ 100th anniversary celebration is crescendoing this fall with a series of events showcasing the instruments’ ongoing impact on students and the musical community.
The centennial celebration kicked off in January with organ demonstrations, historical presentations and a hymn festival, featuring “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
The hymn was one of the first pieces of music played through the more than 4,000 pipes of the University Auditorium organ when the school dedicated it in 1925. The organ is named after philanthropist Andrew Anderson who gave a $50,000 donation to support building the instrument of then UF President Albert Murphree’s dreams.
UF student and nephew of Murphree, Claude Murphree, would become the school’s first university organist. Willis Bodine took over the program for the next 44 years before the current professor of organ and carillon and associate director of the UF School of Music, Laura Ellis, became UF’s third organist in 2003.
Ellis will re-create a holiday recital of Claude’s in December as the final event concluding the organ’s centennial celebration. The fall lineup also features a guest artist recital from organist Chelsea Chen.
According to a press release, Chen is a San Diego native with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School in New York City. Along with recording multiple CDs, Chen has performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Lou Harrison Festival Rutgers Orchestra.
Here is a complete lineup of fall organ centennial celebration events. All Organ Studio events are free and open to the public.
Guest artist recital feat. Chelsea Chen
Date: Thursday, Sept. 4
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Pipe organ demonstration
Date: Saturday, Oct. 25
Time: 1:55 p.m.
Halloween Spooktacular feat. UF Organ Studio alumnus Scott Ziegler
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Alumni recital feat. Shawn Thomas
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 7:20 p.m.
UF Organ Studio fall recital
Date: Thursday, Nov. 20
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Re-creation of Claude Murphree holiday recital feat. Laura Ellis
Date: Sunday, Dec. 7
Time: 12:50 p.m.