Organist to perform at St. John’s Church

BANGOR – Carolyn Shuster Fournier, titular of the Aristide Cavaille-Coll Choir Organ at La Trinite Church in Paris, will perform a diverse program including works of Bach, Franck, Pinkham and Vierne at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St.

Born in Columbia, Mo., Fournier began by studying the piano and the violin. At age 13, she became devoted to the organ under the direction of Dr. Gary Zwicky. She also studied with Gladys Christensen, Wolfgang Rubsam, Yuko Hayashi and Mireille Lagace.

She holds degrees from Wheaton College, New England Conservatory, The Paris Sorbonne and Tours University.

Formerly organist at the American Cathedral in Paris, in 1989 she was named titular of the 1867 Aristide Cavaille-Coll choir organ at La Trinite Church, where she founded its noontime Thursday concert series. Composers including Jacques Chailley, Herve Lacombe, Jean-Dominique Pasquet and Daniel Pinkham have dedicated works to her.

An international concert artist with a vast repertory, she has performed in Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and the United States.

In anticipation of the program, French students at Brewer High School will learn about the visiting artist and the composers during their classes. St. John’s organist Kevin Birch will make a special presentation at Brewer High School and the students will meet Madame Fournier at the concert.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free and donations will be appreciated.