International Organist Virtuoso Christopher Herrick to Perform in Oakland

The Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh will present organist Christopher Herrick in concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at St. Paul Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Oakland.

The event, co-presented by Dr. Ross P. Cafaro, kicks off the 34th season of the OAS.

A graduate of Exeter College in the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Music in London, Herrick is widely recognized as one of Europe’s most acclaimed organists. During his nearly 40-year professional career, Herrick has performed around the world and recorded 40 CDs. 

After hearing Herrick play the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, The New York Times exclaimed, “He is a virtuoso, no question. He was at the peak of his considerable form, combining precision with panache, interpretive freedom with sheer joy in virtuosity. The playing was, in a word, triumphal.”

Herrick will play Bach’s “Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue,” in addition to works by Mozart, Verdi, and other masters on St. Paul Cathedral’s recently restored organ. The instrument will allow Herrick’s effortless technique to speak through more than 5,000 pipes in one of Pittsburgh’s most impressive architectural venues.

A reception with light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres follows the concert. Parking is available adjacent to the venue. Tickets, available at the door or in advance, are $12; $5 for students. For more information or to preorder tickets, visit www.oas-series.com or call 412-242-2787.

The OAS Committee of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is dedicated to promoting the performance, recognition and appreciation of organ music as an art form by bringing to Pittsburgh many of the world's foremost organists. Visit www.oas-series.com for more information about the series and performers.