Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 3 pm
All are welcome to attend this dedication concert showcasing the lush and resonant tones of the church’s new, ultramodern organ.
The free concert features organ performances by Dr. Jason Farris, director of music at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, VA. Dr. Farris will offer a varied program of classic organ repertoire and favorite sacred music of the faith.
The Palms’ new organ, an Allen Genisys 340DK, is “state of the art and will help us continue our tradition of musical excellence here at The Palms,” said Rev. Jim Alexander, associate pastor of pastoral care and worship.
Allen church organs are renowned worldwide for producing realistic pipe organ sounds.
“The voice sampling is the most authentic you can get,” Alexander said, adding that the 340DK model has the range of eight different organs in one.
It replaces an organ that was nearly original to the building when the church’s sanctuary was dedicated in 1972.
Acquisition of the new organ was made possible with bequests from the estates of Bonnie Tweedy, Ruth and Howard Behle, and Roy and Joyce Spaulding.
About Dr. Jason Farris
Dr. Jason Farris is the Director of Music at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains, VA. He plays the organ for all worship services, conducts the Chancel Choir, and he is the Artistic Director of the Grace Church Concert Series, as well as music ministry liaison to Paragon Philharmonia, the church’s in-residence orchestra.
Dr. Farris was previously a visiting assistant professor of music at University of the South in Sewanee, TN, where he taught applied organ lessons to both undergrad and graduate students, as well as undergraduate courses in music theory and a graduate-level church music course. As the Associate University Organist and Choirmaster, he directed the music programs in two campus chapels and conducted the University and Seminary Choirs.
Prior to this position, he was the Assistant University Organist at The University of the South. In addition to playing for campus-wide liturgies in All Saints’ Chapel and the School of Theology’s worship services in the Chapel of the Apostles, he also accompanied the University and Seminary Choirs. In 2011, he was the organist for the University Choir’s residencies at the Anglican Cathedrals of St. Alban, Rochester, and Canterbury, and is featured on the choir’s latest recording, “O Praise God In His Holiness: A Three Cathedrals Tour.”
He earned a doctorate of musical art in organ performance at the University of Houston, where he studied with Dr. Robert Bates. He earned bachelor and master of music degrees at Baylor University under Dr. Joyce Jones. On separate occasions, he was awarded scholarships to attend the British Organ Music Seminar in London, England and the French Organ Music Seminar in Paris, France.
Previous organ recital engagements include National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., Christ Church (Episcopal) in Cranbrook, MI, the Philadelphia Cathedral (Episcopal), Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Nashville, TN, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, TN, and the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) in Houston, TX.