Central Presbyterian Church will honor its long-time organist Dr. Emil Ahnell with an organ recital today. Ahnell retired from Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he taught music, and has played the organ at the church for over four decades.
The free program will begin at 5 p.m., and the church encourages the public to join.
With a nationwide shortage of organists, Central Presbyterian Church began a scholarship-funded organ apprenticeship 2 years ago. Ahnell has played a pivotal role in the program to recruit young people to learn to play the organ.
Apprentices James Well, Sarah Bill Caudill, and Joyce Goodwin will perform at the recital. The church is located at 426 St. Ann Street in Owensboro.
The organ Ahnell plays at the church is more than a century old. According to written church history, the Henry Pilcher Co. of Louisville installed the organ in 1909 for $1,825.
Ahnell has spent a significant portion of his life casting refined yet delicate tones from the 20th century out onto the congregation. And today, he’ll simply be able to listen and relish in the advancements of the apprenticeship program.
