John Sherer To Play at UCM

Sherer is one of the nation’s pre-eminent organists and the director of music at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, which has been named by “USA Today” as one of the top ten locations in America to be “enthralled by heavenly music.” The church, along with Sherer and the Morning Choir, was featured in the motion picture “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Sherer received bachelor’s degrees in organ performance and choral music education from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, master’s degrees in organ performance and art-in-religion from Yale University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School.

Sherer’s performance program will feature a local connection. All of the compositions on the program were favorites of Charles McManis, the organbuilder of the Homan-McCandless pipe organ in Hart Recital Hall.

Charles W. McManis was a renowned American organbuilder and accomplished organist from Kansas City whose career spanned more than 60 years.  The 13-rank, 11-stop Homan-McCandless pipe organ was built and installed in Hart Recital Hall by McManis in 1960, and his legacy will be commemorated by Sherer in this program featuring music that influenced and shaped McManis as an organbuilder.