St. John’s Organ Society is pleased to present an organ concert on Thursday, August 8, at 7:30 pm, featuring Hentus van Rooyen (Portland, ME) performing music of Johann Sebastian Bach, César Franck, and Herbert Howells.
The concert is part of the 31st Summer Recital Series on Maine’s largest 19th-Century mechanical-action pipe organ, E. & G. G. Hook’s magnificent Opus 288, at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Bangor.
Dr. Hentus van Rooyen, a native of South Africa, is Director of Music Ministries at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth, ME. Additionally, he teaches Applied Organ lessons at Bowdoin College, and is the chorus master for the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Christmas. In April 2024, he appeared as guest director for the St. Mary Schola, Maine’s Premier Early Music Ensemble. Prior to his relocation to Maine in 2022, van Rooyen served as Assistant Professor of Music, Sacred Music Coordinator and College Organist at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, and served as the Director of Music and Organist at Christ Episcopal Cathedral in Salina, KS.
Van Rooyen holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from the University of North Texas. His other degrees in organ performance, pedagogy, and church music were completed at the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. He has studied organ performance with Jesse Eschbach and Wim Viljoen, and baroque repertoire studies with Paul Leenhouts. For more information about van Rooyen, including upcoming performances, please visit www.hentusvanrooyen.com.
These hour-long recitals occur on Thursday evenings at 7:30. St. John’s Catholic Church is located at 207 York Street in Bangor. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.