October organ recitals in Hillsboro and Zanesville

By John Glaze

The kickoff event for the 2024-25 Concert Series of Music at St. Mary's will be an organ recital by Jim McLaughlin, a 1964 Hillsboro High School graduate and 1968 Ohio University graduate. 

As part of Jim’s October recitals, he will be presenting two this month. Music is such a wonderful gift which brings people together. Jim would find it such a pleasure to share another music adventure with you. The recitals are always free and open to the public and he hopes you can attend and bring a friend. Jim will be performing his 27th annual organ recital Sunday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. at Central Trinity United Methodist Church, 62 South Seventh Street, Zanesville. 

The center of attention for the recital is the church’s E.M. Skinner pipe organ which was built in Boston in 1924. This year, it is celebrating its 100th birthday. The organ was refurbished in 1997 by the Peebles-Herzog Organ Company from Columbus. 

Eric Shields and Andy Ruetz will be assisting with solos for trumpet and trombone. You will have an opportunity to sing a hymn with organ accompaniment. Following the recital, you may take a tour of the pipe chamber. The Worship Committee is providing a time of fellowship that will include special 100th anniversary celebration refreshments.

The recital will be live-streamed on the church website. The recital will also be available for later viewing on the church’s website media library.
www.centraltrinityumc.com

For the Highland County Community, he will also perform the recital Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 234 North High Street, Hillsboro. 

This will be my eighth recital at St. Mary’s Church. Their organ, which will celebrate its 140th birthday next year, was built in Cincinnati by Koehnken & Grimm in 1885, rebuilt by Moeller Organ of Hagerstown, Md. in the 1930s and the console rebuilt and the organ refurbished to bring it up to 21st Century technology in 2009 by the Muller Organ Company or Croton. 

Jennie Harner will be assisting with flute solos. You will have an opportunity to sing a hymn with organ accompaniment. A fellowship time with refreshments will follow the recital. 

Music at St. Mary's is a concert series presented by St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. We exist solely on the donations of folks attending the series as well as larger individual gifts from folks wishing to have quality performances in our area. For a full list of this season’s concerts, you may visit our website: www.masmhillsboro.weebly.com.