German organist Hans Hielscher seated at the console of Takapuna Methodist Church’s George Croft organ after his recital on 18 February 2024
On February 18th, the Takapuna Methodist Church hosted a special music event. Fifty people came to listen to Hans Hielscher, a famous organ player from Germany. Hans has been playing the organ at the Marktkirche in Wiesbaden, Germany, since 1979. He learned music in Germany and France, and even studied the carillon, a bell instrument, in The Netherlands.
Hans has played the organ in nearly 4,000 concerts all over the world, including in the United States, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand. He’s also been on radio and TV, made 22 CDs, written books about organs, and created 60 organ pieces.
The Takapuna concert had music from several composers, including Denis Bedard, Enrico Pasini, Lester Groom, Hans himself, and Franz von Suppe. This gave the audience a mix of different organ music to enjoy.
But there was more to the event than just music. The church’s organ, a George Croft organ made in 1963 and updated later, needs fixing and updating. The money from the concert will help fix the organ. This organ is important for the church and the local area, and fixing it will let people enjoy its music for a long time.
Hans Hielscher’s concert was not only a chance to hear beautiful music but also helped a good cause. It was a night that brought people together to enjoy music and support their community.