Submitted photo Organist Lisa Lohmeyer is shown at First Christian Church’s celebrated Aeolian-Skinner organ in Columbus.
A long-celebrated structure will stand tall in the figurative spotlight with the help of a long-celebrated musical instrument Nov. 12 at a free, local celebration.
Lisa Lohmeyer, a volunteer organist on the vaunted Aeolian-Skinner keyboard at First Christian Church, figured the recent success of the much-publicized $3.1 million campaign to preserve the prestigious First Christian Church tower, called for an occasion of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving to donors and all supporters and gratitude for community unity. Therein lies the purpose of an event billed as “Towering Achievement: Community Celebration.”
Famous towers from around the world will be highlighted in the program, along with music from their countries: The Eiffel Tower and music from France; the Leaning Tower of Pisa and music from Italy; the London Bridge tower and music from England; First Christian’s tower and music from the United States, and Rapunzel’s tower & music from Disney’s “Tangled.”
“I love the idea of an extravaganza (concert),” Lohmeyer said.
Does she ever. She’s assembled a band of musicians including seasoned trumpeter Keith Burton from the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, veteran flutist Kathy Dell, now retired from the Philharmonic, choir leader David Bowden, the now-retired Philharmonic artistic director, and IU music school graduate and soprano vocalist Erin Erickson.
Plus, there will be an 18-person children’s choir, poetry reading and more. Add her giftedness on the organ, and does that sound a bit like a towering celebration?
“That (grandness) is part of what this is all about, definitely,” said Lohmeyer, who led a previous, similar concert in 2020. “Because I think that a lot of people have had a view of an organ as sometimes being considered kind of stuffy.
“I myself once had that view when I was in college. I was required back then to go to a lot of organ recitals, and much of the time, I really did not enjoy it.”
She promises that those who perhaps never have fallen in love with the big pipes can have a big time at this event.
“Everybody who attends will find something to love,” she said.
Bowden agrees. And before he offered his view on that, the musical leader who has been recognized more than once nationally for his programming prowess, wanted to laud Lohmeyer.
“Her programming on this is so very creative,” Bowden said. “In fact, I think that it’s brilliant.”
Bowden has long loved the First Christian organ, considered among the finest in the country by top musicians such as former Columbus resident and organist Dan McKinley. Moreover, Bowden has adored the church’s overall space and acoustics since 1987.
“It’s still my favorite space in the whole world,” Bowden said.
He said he’s more than excited to lead the choir through the classic hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King,” a favorite composition a high school teacher let him lead with a choir when he was only 16. Burton will be especially featured on that work.
“That will be,” he said, “so much fun.”
Lohmeyer is looking to her own sense of fun on pieces such as “The William Tell Overture.” She acknowledged that tune alone has kept her musical aim in three months of rehearsal both challenged and sharp. She couched her perspective in pointed humor.
“Either I’m getting old,” she said, “or that piece can be really hard.”
Free event tickets
This is a free event from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Nov. 12 at First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St. in downtown Columbus. Register for a ticket through Eventbrite. Visit eventbrite.com and search for “Towering Achievement”.
