Oct. 12, 3 p.m. at the Gallatin United Methodist Church
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Dedication services for the completely rebuilt Kilgen pipe organ at the Gallatin United Methodist Church will feature a musical recital by Jon L. Bertschinger at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. The public is invited.
Mr. Bertschinger is pipe voicer/tonal director for Temple Organ Company of St. Joseph, the company which rebuilt the church’s pipe organ to its original standards as when new in 1912. The project began in the early 1980s. A dedication concert, presented by Dr. Marilyn W. Brandom in March, 1981, marked completion of the first phase. Funding to complete the overall project wasn’t available until a gift from the Brandom estate along with additional donations made completion possible. Katherine Brandom was a longtime organist and member of the Gallatin Methodist Church. Mr. Fred Cool of Temple Organ Co., now retired, rebuilt the organ during the first phase; his son, David Cool, recently completed the project.
Sunday’s recital will feature works from early English and French composers, Baroque, Romantic and Modern composers.
A native of Burlington, Iowa, Jon Bertschinger first learned the keyboards from his grandfather and from the organist at his home church. He began advanced studies in piano while in junior high school, and became acquainted with Temple Organ Company as workmen performed repairs at his church. He joined the company as an employee after high school graduation and gained experience as principal accompanist for college choirs and ensembles.
Bertschinger studied with Anita Eggert-Werling in Macomb, IL, and then continued studies at California-State and Fresno State Colleges. He moved to Quincy, IL, to work in photographic sales and service and was organist at the First United Presbyterian Church for many years. He then took a post at Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden, IL, for a year and also St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Quincy before moving to St. Joseph and rejoining the Temple Organ Company full time.
In 1992 Mr. Bertschinger took the post of organist/accompanist at Westminster Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph. He has attended numerous workshops and masterclasses in organ in Bach and French Romantic organ works.