2014 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: SACRED MUSIC IN A SACRED SPACE

LEWISTON — The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ash St. will host a summer concert series that is free and open to the public. Donations to restore the Casavant Organ will be accepted.

From 12:15-12:45 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, organist Chris Ganza and soprano Karen Pierce will perform in concert.

Ganza began studying the organ at the age of nine. An interest in the instrument gained from observing the work of the organist at the church in which he grew up in Waterville, led him to begin lessons with Ray Cornils of Portland. Two years later he began the duties of organist at Corpus Christi Parish, and at the Universalist-Unitarian Church of Waterville. He held these positions and continued to study privately with Cornils until he left Maine to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Music in Church Music.

Currently, Ganza is the director of music and organist at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he directs the 20-voice adult choir, coaches and supervises adult and youth cantors, and plays the organ for the parish’s four weekend liturgies. In addition, he plans and plays for all liturgies connected with that school.

Pierce thinks of singing as painting with sound. She has performed in concert and recital in Maine and New York, as well as Italy, Austria and Asia. As guest artist at the University of Melbourne (Australia), she presented a concert of American Songs, and taught a master class for singers.

Formerly on the voice faculty of Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby Colleges, she has also maintained a private voice studio for over 20 years.

Pierce has extensive experience as a church musician, both as soloist and director, in churches in Maine and New York. She also works as a clinician, designing and leading retreats and workshops for both choirs and individual singing participants. She has studied with retired Metropolitan Opera coach Millard Altman since 1996.