50 Years of Inspiring Music 

Two free events next month at World Conference will close the yearlong 50th anniversary of the Auditorium organ.

The instrument, dedicated at the 1960 World Conference, will be the center of attention Saturday, April 10, at 8:30 p.m. Principal Organist Jan Kraybill will play a program of creative pieces from composers across generations. The performance will show the organ’s varied sounds. It will include everyone’s favorite pipes—the trompette en chamade, loud trumpets at the back of the Conference Chamber.

A medley of Celtic tunes, written for a youth rally at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, will feature these pipes. The trumpet pipes at the Cathedral inspired Bethel Knoche to seek similar trumpets for the Auditorium organ.

On April 17—the 50th anniversary of the organ’s dedication—the International Hymn Festival will include a rededication to the glory of God. This event will celebrate the singing heritage of the church.

During the last 50 years, the organ has inspired the church’s song through the ministries of Bethel Knoche, John Obetz, Jan Kraybill, and many staff organists. We will commission the organ and ourselves for moving into the future with vision and enthusiasm. The hymn fest will be streamed on the Internet so more church members can share in the experience.

—Pam Robison reporting