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Fiftieth-Anniversary Celebration

Where were you the evening of November 6, 1959? According to the Kansas City Star, 7,000 people packed the Auditorium Conference Chamber to hear Catharine Crozier play the first recital on its new Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ.

The organ’s fiftieth-anniversary celebration season will begin October 4 at 3:00 p.m. with a recital by Organist Emeritus John Obetz, who served thirty-three years. Jan Kraybill, principal organist and director of music, says, “It is wonderful that Dr. Obetz will open the fiftieth-anniversary celebration. John has spent more time with the instrument than anyone else in its fifty years, and this performance will continue the standard of excellence he set on the radio program, ‘The Auditorium Organ.’”

On November 6 at 8:00 p.m., Kraybill will recreate the inaugural recital, fifty years to the hour after Crozier played it. “I am extremely excited and grateful to do this!” Kraybill said. “However, it is up to the membership of the church and the friends of this glorious instrument to make the crowd! I encourage everyone to come to all the celebratory recitals to hear truly beautiful organ music and pay tribute to the heritage of this amazing, breathtaking instrument.”

See more celebration events at www.CofChrist.org/dome_spire.

—Jeff Benson reporting