The Rudolf von Beckerath organ in Cannon Memorial Chapel at the University of
Richmond is 50 years old this year! To celebrate its 50th birthday, three U.R. alumni,
Bruce Stevens (’69), Thom Robertson (’69), and Michael Simpson (’74), will play a
festive organ concert exactly 50 years after the inaugural concert took place.
On the same Friday evening in 1962, University of Michigan organ professor Robert
Noehren introduced the organ to a full house when he played the first concert on the
brand new and unique German-made Baroque-style instrument. Since then, the organ has
been played by leading organists from around the world. It is a treasure.
Included in the birthday program of works by Buxtehude, Bruhns, Bach, Schumann,
Rheinberger, Reger, Franck, Walcha, Pepping, Schroeder, and John Weaver will be
several that Professor Noehren performed on that evening 50 years ago.