NEWBURYPORT — Organist Dr. Justin Murphy-Mancini will perform Sunday, at 4 p.m. at First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, Newburyport, as part of its Wilson Concert Series.
The concert is the first in a series of regional events that celebrate the launch of his new album, “Organ Music in New England: Cultivating a Living Director”, from Grammy-nominated producer, Geoffrey Silver, on the Acis label, which he researched and performed to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of the First Religious Society, Newburyport, where he was previously director of church music.
The works performed will include “Washington’s March”, a work that Murphy-Mancini discovered in a manuscript dating from 1786 by Newbuyporter Henry Titcomb held in the Museum of Old Newbury (and reproduced in the album booklet); Dudley Buck’s variations on the Irish popular song “The Last Rose of Summer” from 1877, and a double fugue on “God Save the Queen” by Mainer John Knowles Paine.
In 2024, Murphy-Mancini took up his current academic post as the Paul Fritts Endowed Chair at Pacific Lutheran University where he is professor of organ. The concert is performed in honor of Barbara Owen, former FRSUU director of church music and international organist, and mentor and friend of Murphy-Mancini. The concert will last one hour and the artist will be signing albums for purchase after the event.
Suggested donations: $20 for general admission, $10 for seniors, $60 for full season tickets.