Sunday, April 19, 3 p.m.
The South Church Arts & Social Justice Series presents virtuoso organist Christopher Houlihan performing on our historic organ.
Christopher Houlihan has established an international reputation as a “passionate and intelligently virtuoso musician” (Gramophone), hailed for his “glowing, miraculously life-affirming performances” (Los Angeles Times). His playing has been praised as “eloquent” (The New York Times), “dazzling” (Wall Street Journal), and “first-class” (The Diapason). He has concertized at major concert venues throughout the United States, including the Kennedy Center, the Kimmel Center, Davies Symphony Hall, and at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where he performed with the principal Brass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Los Angeles Times raved about his debut, proclaiming, “Houlihan is the next big organ talent.”
He has been featured as soloist with the Hartford Symphony, Columbus (GA) Symphony, Waterbury Symphony (CT), and the Boston Chamber Orchestra, and has been presented in recital at numerous conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. In 2014, he performed in a prime-time slot of WQXR’s All-Day Bach Organ Marathon in New York City.
Houlihan serves on the music faculty of Trinity College, Hartford, as the John Rose Distinguished College Organist, Director of Chapel Music, and Artist-in-Residence. Since 2022, he is also Artistic Director of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford, presenter of one of the premier North American competitions for young organists.
Houlihan will perform on South Church’s 1896 Casavant Organ, Opus 74, the oldest working Casavant in the United States. Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., rebuilt and installed the organ in 2012. He will create a program that showcases its unique features and tonalities.
Reservations
Reservations are strongly recommended. Call (413) 253-2977 or email office@amherstsouthchurch.org (please include your full name, phone #, and number of attendees).
Recital will take place in the South Church Sanctuary, 1066 South East Street, Amherst, MA.
Suggested donation: $20
Arts & Social Justice Series at South Church
This event is part of South Church’s 2026 Arts and Social Justice Series, which offers concerts, community gatherings, and cultural events.
Video of Houlihan in Action at a Previous Concert
About Our 1896 Casavant Organ
South Church’s 1896 Casavant Organ, Opus 74, was originally installed at Saint Ann’s Church in Woonsocket, RI, which primarily served the immigrants who worked at the Woonsocket mills. When three Woonsocket churches merged 85 years later, the “St. Hyacinthe” organ was acquired by the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, which intended to restore the instrument; however, other priorities prevailed. Parkman S. Shaw Jr., of Brookline, MA, purchased the organ and made arrangements with Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., of Northampton to document and remove the instrument with all its pipes and parts so that it could be restored and installed in a church in the greater Boston area. Two Boston sites were considered, but neither proved to be a good fit, physically or visually. The disassembled organ was then placed in safe storage until a new home could be found.
When South Congregational Church faced the prospect of having to make major repairs to its Berkshire organ in early 2011, the church’s Organ Committee advocated purchasing and rebuilding the available 1896 Casavant organ. The congregation voted to purchase the organ and contract with Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc. to build and install the instrument. It was first played in a church service on September 9, 2012.