Charles Miller, organist and director of music at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn.
DEARBORN — Nine Detroit-area organists will perform the well-known musical works of Johann Sebastian Bach during a day-long concert on the 2,500-pipe, 1958 Austin pipe organ at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church on Oct. 11.
The concert serves as a fundraiser to help purchase a new organ console to replace the original 1958 console that has deteriorated over more than 70 years of continuous play.
The concert is open to the public with donations of any amount at the door welcome. A reception will follow the final performance by James Kibbie.
Church music director Charles Miller said $162,000 has already been raised toward the goal of $190,000 for the console’s purchase and installation.
“We are so close to reaching our goal of installing the new console in the early summer of 2026,” said Miller, whose idea for a marathon concert mirrored a feat he achieved by playing two complete works of Bach for 10-hour concerts at the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., in 2011 and 2013.
“We are very honored to have such top-flight organists in the Detroit area willing to help us.”
During the concert there will be nine recitals of 50 minutes each with audience members invited to stay for as long as they like.
Scheduled performers are:
Organ console to be replaced at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church.
10 a.m. — Charles Miller, director of music, Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church, Dearborn.
11 a.m. – Nicole Keller, chair of the Organ Department, University of Michigan.
Noon – Joseph Balistreri, director of music, St. Matthew Catholic Church, Detroit.
1 p.m. – Jonathan Ryan, director of music, Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills.
2 p.m. – David Hufford, organist, First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor.
3 p.m. – Caroline Robinson, professor of organ, University of Michigan.
4 p.m. – Jeremy David Tarrant, canon for music, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit.
5 p.m. – David Stultz, director of music, First Presbyterian Church, Dearborn.
6 p.m. – James Kibbie, organ professor emeritus, University of Michigan.
Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church is at 24110 Cherry Hill Road. Parking is available in the church parking lot. An accessible entrance is available on Drexel Street, west of the church sanctuary.
Additional information about the concert is available by calling the church office at 313-563-4800 or going to www.cherryhillchurch.org.