Pannebaker to give noon organ recital
Dr. Jeffrey Pannebaker will return to First Lutheran Church, Johnstown, to play a recital at noon Oct. 4 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the church’s Skinner organ.
More than 40 years ago when Pannebaker was director of music and Christian education at First Lutheran, he oversaw augmentation of the organ to enlarge it to 3,000 pipes. In recent years it has been extensively rebuilt.
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The organ recital will be the first in the October series presented by the Tuesday Noon Recital Task Force. A light lunch will follow the program, which is financed by donations. There is no admission charge.
A highlight of the recital will be a Bach setting of Ein Feste Burg. The program also will present the work of two Black composers, Florence Price, an American, and Fela Sowande of Nigeria.
“I believe Black composers have been under-represented in organ literature,” Pannebaker said.
A native of Altoona, he received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s in sacred music from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He served First Lutheran from 1974 until 1988, when he became director of music at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. In addition to organ performance he oversaw several choirs, concerts, tours and community outreach events. In 2018 he became organist at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland. He has presented workshops, recitals and hymn festivals throughout the eastern United States. He has composed and arranged extensively.
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Other October noon recitals:
Oct. 11. Take Two — Russ and Donna Miller — play numerous instruments and sing a wide range of popular music. They live in Hancock, Maryland, and have performed throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The Millers met while they were performing. Donna was primarily a drummer with country and swing bands. Russ’ early instruction by U. S. Army Band leader and composer Thomas F. Darcy led to a spot as trumpet soloist in the Johnstown Youth Symphony. Take Two went on to many years of performance together. Russ also has been a special education teacher.
Oct. 12. The “ambient music” duo Alex Price, guitar, and Michael Garbett, vibraphone, join in what they call Resolute Vibration. Their compositions create an aura of relaxation. Price grew up in Richland Township and has toured the world as a violinist on the Cunard Lines’ Queen Mary II. He is on the faculty of Duquesne University and plays the viola in the Johnstown and Altoona symphonies, and fretted instruments in the Erie Philharmonic.
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Garbett, who is a percussionist, lives in Pittsburgh and began his professional career in 2015 with the Inner Urge. He now performs with the Biscuits, King Catfish, and Steeline, the drum line of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Oct. 25. Joshua Rinaman, tenor, is a native of Cranberry Township, where he performed in choirs and community musical theater. Now a Johnstown resident, Rinaman is a student at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, majoring in musical arts theater and production. He has appeared in musical productions at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center — including the role of Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar — and at Cresson Lake Playhouse. He sings in the Johnstown Symphony Chorale and the First Lutheran Church choir.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Noon recital series kicks off fall concert program
