Michael Rees is appointed organ scholar for Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois, where he will assist John W. W. Sherer, organist and director of music, in administering and playing for the large and expanding music program. Rees will accompany the choirs, including the professional Morning Choir, assist in service playing, and play several recitals in the weekly Friday concert series on the 2015 Quimby Opus 71 of five manuals, 202 stops, 142 ranks.
While earning his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California, Rees began organ lessons with William Peterson at neighboring Pomona College. He continued taking private lessons and auditing the new graduate course “Collaborative Skills for Organists” at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, both with Daryl Robinson. He is currently studying with Stephen Buzard, director of music at St. James Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago. Rees has also held organist positions at First Presbyterian Church, Sugar Land, Texas, and Barrington United Methodist Church, Barrington, Illinois.
The current organ scholarship at Fourth Presbyterian is an expanded version of the previous position, intended to give recent entrants to the field of church music experience working in a large urban church. The church’s music program features more than 100 concerts each year, seven adult choirs, four children’s choirs, and four instrumental groups. For information: fourthchurch.org.
Other recent appointments:
Lorraine Brugh to Pinnacle Presbyterian, Scottsdale
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