Well known organist to play at Baycourt

Performing at Baycourt, Hans Uwe Hielscher will play music by composers Irving Berlin, Albert Ketlbey and Scott Joplin, whose works have become staple compositions. Photo/file

Baycourt will host one of the world's most well-known organists, Hans Uwe Hielscher, next month.

Hans is a German organist and composer, the organist and carilloneur at the Marktkirche in Wiesbaden since 1979, and internationally known as a concert organist.

"Although he is a classical organist who regularly plays at a Wiesbaden Cathedral, Germany, since 1986 he has taught at the University of Redlands, California so he is also very proficient with American Theatre Organ music styles," says Louise Creighton, chairwoman of the Tauranga Theatre Organ Society.

Hielscher has played more than 2500 organ concerts worldwide having studied church music at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold and carillon in Utrecht.

From 1969 to 1973 he was church musician in Juist and from 1973 to 1979 in Bielefeld.

He has been the organist and carilloneur at the Marktkirche in Wiesbaden since 1979.

He created a series of weekly free recitals called Orgelmusik zur Marktzeit (organ music at market time) in which he and guest organists perform seasonal music, more than 1500 events as of 2010.

In 1985 he worked at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles in exchange with Samuel Swartz, and he has been teaching at the University of Redlands in California since 1986.

Tickets are on sale and available at the box office on Durham St or online at ticketek.co.nz. Adult tickets are $29, children (under 14 years) are $10, concession, seniors and unwaged cost $27, and students, tertiary and secondary, $10. Tauranga Theatre Organ Society & Friends of Baycourt tickets are $25 (with membership cards).

Go to www.baycourt.co.nz.

the fine print
What: Say It With Music
Where: Baycourt
When: Wednesday, March 1, 7pm