Kurt von Schakel will present a free organ concert at Plainfield United Methodist Church (600 Simmons St., Plainfield) on Sunday October 8 at 3 p.m. The Hendricks Symphony is under the direction of Benjamin G. Del Vecchio. This program will include works by Bach, Saint-Saens, Moszkowski, Vierne and Elgar along with a few surprises. The program will also feature Plainfield United Methodist Church’s newly refurbished symphonic pipe organ built by Reynolds Associates in Marion, Indiana.

A native of Indianapolis, Kurt von Schakel studied piano with William Eltzroth and Dorothy Munger before attending the School of Music at Indiana University where he studied with noted pianist Jorge Bolet. At age 12, he was one of the youngest soloists to have appeared with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Young Artists Competition .Kurt has performed twice at Carnegie Hall, and has played concerts throughout the United States and England. For twelve years, Kurt and the late Gerry Gregorious of Portland, Oregon played duo piano/organ concerts throughout the country.

Popular music paved the way for his interest in the theater pipe organ, and Kurt was house organist at the Rivoli Theater in Indianapolis (pre “blue” film days,) as well as playing in several restaurants equipped with theater organs: the Shady Nook near Cincinnati, the Band organ in South Bend, and as opening staff organist at the Cardinal Music Palace in Ft. Wayne. He is in his twenty-fifth year as the organist for the PMO Christmas Show at Purdue University.

Active in sacred music since the age of eleven, Kurt has been the organist and music director at several Indianapolis area congregations through the years. Kurt has also worked designing and maintaining pipe organs. Recently he consulted on the design of a concert instrument for the famed Aspen Music Festival.

Chamber music has also been an interest and Kurt works with many of the ISO musicians, recently forming with principal musicians Raye Pankratz and Len Cheatham, the “Kuralen Trio.”

Kurt resides (with his two Steinway pianos) on the east side of Indianapolis in his maternal Great-Grandparent’s home, enjoys cooking, reading and his Harley-Davidson and Ducati motorcycles. For an afternoon of inspiring organ music, come to the free concert by Kurt von Schakel.