Virtuoso Organist to Open South Church Arts & Social Justice Series
The Casavant organ at the South Congregational Church, Amherst. Photo: South Congregational Church
Source: Bruce Penniman
Widely acknowledged as one of the brightest stars in the new generation of American organists, Christopher Houlihan will perform on the oldest working Casavant organ in the United States on Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m. at South Congregational Church in Amherst.
Houlihan has established an international reputation as a “passionate and intelligently virtuoso musician” (Gramophone) and hailed for his “glowing, miraculously life-affirming performances” (Los Angeles Times). His recital is the first event in the South Church’s 2026 Arts & Social Justice Series.
Houlihan’s program will showcase the unique features and tonalities of South Church’s 1896 Casavant Organ, Opus 74. The Northampton firm Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., rebuilt and installed the organ in 2012 and is an underwriter of the recital.
Houlihan’s playing has been praised as “eloquent” (The New York Times), “dazzling” (Wall Street Journal), and “first-class” (The Diapason). He has played 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.
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.
The recital will take place in the South Church sanctuary, 1066 South East Street, Amherst. The suggested donation is $20 per person. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call (413) 253-2977 or email office@amherstsouthchurch.org (please include full name, phone, and number of attendees).
Arts & Social Justice Series Announced
The organ recital will be followed by four other events in the 2026 Arts & Social Justice Series:
- Amherst Regional High School Hurricane Singers, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7 p.m.
- Reading Frederick Douglass Together, Sunday, July 5, 2026, 3-5 p.m.
- Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing – Book Group Discussion, Wednesday, September 30, 7 p.m.
- The Visitor – Pizza & Movie Night, Wednesday, November 4, 5 p.m.