The Chattanooga Music Club presents its annual free Patriotic Organ Concert Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. in Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave.
This is the 13th year that the CMC has hosted a nationally known organist to play the auditorium's historic Austin organ. Thursday's guest artist is Andrew Schaeffer, a Chicago native and rising artist who already has several national awards to his credit.
In December, he was appointed director of music at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, Wisconsin, and he is working toward a doctorate in musical arts at the University of Oklahoma.
A 32nd-degree Mason, Schaeffer has served as a temple organist at Guthrie Scottish Rite as well as organist for the McAlester Scottish Rite, both in Oklahoma.
In addition to his own program of music, Schaeffer will accompany a screening of the 1922 silent film, "Cops," starring Buster Keaton.
While trying to impress the woman he loves, Keaton's bad decisions (and worse luck) bring the city's police force in hot, and often bumbling, pursuit. "Cops" was added to the National Film Registry in 1997.
Of special interest at Thursday's concert will be a tribute by emcee David Carroll remembering the late Evelyn Gibbs, a Chattanooga Music Club member whose tireless work and leadership spearheaded the restoration of the auditorium's Austin organ.
Capt. Mickey McCamish will lead a salute to veterans that includes recognizing the 75th anniversary of D-Day. A posting of the colors will be led by Capt. David Thompson and a guard from the Chattanooga Fire Department, followed by music from soloist Margaret Abernathy and trumpeter Molly Ragon.
Although the concert is free, donations will be accepted to help the Chattanooga Music Club's upkeep of the Austin organ.