Organist to perform in Bangor

BANGOR – One hundred forty-two years after Father John Bapst left his pastorate at St. John’s Catholic Church to become rector of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the music director of that church’s Jesuit Urban Center in Boston will give an organ concert at the church that Bapst built.

Christa Rakich, who also is associate professor of organ and harpsichord at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., will play St. John’s E&GG Hook Opus 288 organ at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the church at 207 York St.

Officials from the sponsoring Bangor Chapter, American Guild of Organists, said Rakich was one of the most prominent organists to be featured at an AGO concert here in years.

A Fulbright scholar who studied with Anton Heiller in Vienna, Rakich holds degrees in organ and German from Oberlin College. She has a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, where she taught for a decade.

Rakich has been active in the AGO on many levels, and is a prizewinner from many international competitions.

The E&GG Hook organ Rakich will play came up the Penobscot River in December 1860 aboard a steamer from Boston. The Whig and Courier reported at the time:

“We understand that the new and elegant organ just completed for the Catholic Church in this city, was brought to Winterport by the Steamer Kennebec, on her last trip. It is expected that the organ will be ready for use in the church for their Christmas services.”

A concert that month featured the choir from St. John’s and noted recitalist John Henry Willcox, who went on to be the organist at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

The March 13 concert with Rakich will be free, but donations will be accepted.