Curtis Funk Pipe Organ Recital Zoom College ExperienceWe are fortunate to have Curtis Funk lifting our spirits during the pandemic by providing culture through the medium of Zoom. Curtis is a music professor at the College of Saint Rose who has taught the students of the College Experience some valuable skills. He offered a pipe organ recital that was open to the entire College Experience community this past Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 4:00 PM. Curtis has generously chosen to make this a three part series that will continue on Thursday, May 7, 2020 and Thursday, May 14, 2020 also at 4:00 PM.

Curtis performed his first recital at the monolithic Trinity United Methodist Church located on 235 Lark Street in Downtown Albany, the church was officially founded in 1867 at this location. After two devastating fires, it was rebuilt in 1901 and 1931 as a testament to humankind’s ability to bounce back like a phoenix after horrific circumstances. One of the songs that Curtis played on the church’s massive pipe organ was, Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother, which is one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s earliest work that tells a story through melody of someone choosing to leave town for life’s adventures against the desperate wishes of his dear friends.

We appreciate the contributions of Professor Funk during this time as well as the other staff who have stepped up to the plate. We look forward to this Thursday’s recital, too!