Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Former Radio City Music Hall organist again joins Arborlawn UMC for July 4 concert
Email
|
Print
|
Tell us your story
|
Comment
|
Robert MacDonald
For the last 20 years, Robert MacDonald and Tom Stoker have teamed together on this July 4th concert open to the public for free. In 2008, Arborlawn United Methodist Church’s organist Jerry Westenkuehler joined forces with MacDonald and Stoker for the concert. The choir is open to anyone who wishes to sing. Participating vocalists rehearse from 4-6 p.m., eat a quick dinner, and then perform at 7 p.m.
“It has been a wonderful partnership and friendship,” reflects MacDonald. “I bring my love of the organ and experience at Radio City, Tom offers his expertise with the choir, and Jerry just rounds out the mix. It is unapologetically patriotic. This year, we premier an arrangement of Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever that I have scored for two organs and piano.”
HOW THE CONCERT BEGAN IN 1989
Organist Robert MacDonald moved to Fort Worth from New York, New York in the summer of 1989, having served as staff organist at the famed Radio City Music Hall from 1980 to 1989 while serving concurrently as Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of Sacred Heart in Newark.
Having been hired as Organist/Choir Master at Fort Worth First Presbyterian Church, MacDonald’s first day in Fort Worth was July 4. During the afternoon of that he went to the church to practice. Upon leaving, he found the parking lots and sidewalks jammed with people ready to watch the fireworks just north of the church on the Trinity River . Later that summer, he contacted Broadway Baptist Church ’s minister of music, Tom Stoker, and inquired about the two partnering in a 1990 July 4th concert with a pick-up choir in the sanctuary of the church.
Stoker remembers his first reaction to the invitation, saying, “I told Bob that the community calendar was already full on the 4th with the Fort Worth Symphony at Concerts in the Garden and that this was a family day. I further indicated that I doubted that we could get a choir, and that I was certain that we would have no one attend. Bob grinned at me and indicated that he felt differently. Not knowing his experience in leaving practice on that first July 4th, I reluctantly agreed to conduct the concert. The next year, the choir loft was full, and, when we opened the doors, the people filled the room and even the aisles. Amazing!”
In the past two decades, MacDonald has missed only one concert and Stoker has missed just two. Upon MacDonald’s retirement as Organist/Choir Master from Fort Worth’s First Presbyterian Church in 2006, the concert was moved to Arborlawn United Methodist Church in southwest Fort Worth .
In 2008, Arborlawn organist Jerry Westenkuehler, joined forces with MacDonald and Stoker to offer two organs in the concert – the Arborlawn Sipe pipe organ and one rented large Allen organ. Ben Disney is senior minister of Arborlawn United Methodist Church. The church will break ground on a new 1200-seat sanctuary on its existing campus on July 12, 2009.
Source: Stoker Resources
See more stories in:
Find...
Latest Outbursts
- If you aren't willing to give your land away for free, the Irving City Council thinks you're a big meanie and will whine about you in the press.
- Romanian Festival in Colleyville
- Jack Ruby's hat sold for $53,775
- Dallas Morning News says North Texas Tollway Authority spending large sums on outside contractors
Today
The Wonderful Sounds of Music With the Von Trapp Children Bass Performance Hall will be alive with The Sound of Music! The actual great-grandchildren of Maria and Captain von Trapp give their last performance today. More info
Latest comments
- Vincent on Farmers market at Firewheel Town Center in Garland has promising opening day: Great article, Teresa! Also, let me take this opportunity to thank the vendors who attended this fir...
- Jason Rice on Nana's Kountry Kitchen in Grapevine is proud of its chicken-fried steak: So that new keyboard is working out for you....
- jdn9464 on Romanian Festival: too expensive and admission is charged. I have no problem with fundraisers but come on. I felt like ...
- Jesus Valadez on Experience the Amazon without those pesky mosquitoes: My carbon footprint will consist of me going to space! Who would like to donate so I can go to the f...
Latest reviews
- Billusa99 on Pappas Bros. Steak House: Agent 99 and I had dinner here last week for our anniversary and it was stellar! The somm. we had re...
- Colby Walton on El Taco H (Grapevine): Tried this Grapevine strip center taqueria for the first time tonight, after seeing it mentioned in ...
- lindabear1 on Banana Leaf Thai Cuisine: We live in Garland and this is “way up there”, but we had a coupon! Now we will go back again becaus...
Things you can't miss
Latest stories
- Ethics of Food panel stirs it up on Friday at Dallas Institute of Humanities
- Farmers market at Firewheel Town Center in Garland has promising opening day
- Tickets go on sale November 21 for John Mayer's March 9 Battle Studies concert
- Minnesota Wild 3, Dallas Stars 2
- Experience the Amazon without those pesky mosquitoes
Post a comment