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Historic Calvary United Methodist Church Organ featured in Sunday, August 6 Concert to support choir participation in Messiah at Carnegie Hall

A historic organ concert features the restored 1895 "Farrand & Votey pipe organ at the landmark Calvary United Methodist Church in Allegheny West.

Brian Burns and David Bridge will perform favorites from classical to contemporary, including Bach and Pachelbel. Sunday, August 6 at 4:30 pm

The setting is the restored Tiffany sanctuary where guests are surrounded by Tiffany stained glass masterpieces at a time when the afternoon light shows off their magnificence.

A free-will offering at intermission will help to support the Calvary Choir on their journey to perform the Messiah at Carnegie Hall in New York City this November over Thanksgiving weekend

There will also be a reception for all in the Chapel following the concert

Brian Burns is Calvary's music director and conductor for Messiah at the church, which will host its 11th annual concerts on December 16 and 17. David Bridge is organist for those concerts which features a chamber orchestra and the Calvary Festival Choir.


Brian Burns

Brian Burns (Music Director, Calvary United Methodist Church) is a long-time Pittsburgh resident and a native of Armstrong county. There, he began playing the Hammond organ in church at the age of 12. While attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a piano major, he was introduced to the pipe organ and changed his major to organ performance under the direction of the late Dr. Carol Teti. He was one of the first recipients of the Carol Teti Memorial Scholarship. His undergraduate work was completed with Dr. Christine Clewell in 2001. He served at several churches including St. Bernard's (Indiana, PA) and Ford Memorial United Methodist Church (Ford City, PA). Brian worked for three years with local organ builder Harry Ebert before discovering Calvary United Methodist Church where he used his skills to guide the restoration of Calvary's historic 1894 Farrand & Votey organ. Brian currently directs Calvary's Renewal Choir, the Festival Choir, and plays for all of Calvary's services.

David Bridge

David Bridge, Organist

 David Bridge has served churches in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Beaver Counties. As primary musician for the 2006 Synod Assembly of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he played organ and piano and directed all ensembles. Venue highlights for solo organ recitals include: Heinz Chapel; Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Uniontown; and Lake Lure, North Carolina. A 1998 graduate of St. Vincent College with a bachelor’s in music education, he studied voice with Dr. Curt Scheib, Shirley Huls and Roland Wyatt. He studied piano with Fr. Joseph Bronder, O.S.B. and organ with Edgar B. Highberger. David conducted our Messiah in 2012 and has been organist since 2013. David operates The Bridge Music Studio which provides private lessons for children and adults in piano, voice, and organ.


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