MICHAEL GRANT Gaffney native Dr. J. Michael Grant, who has delighted many church congregations with his organ performance skills, will return to his hometown for a recital in Limestone College’s Fullerton Auditorium on Tuesday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. David B. Thompson, Professor of Music at Limestone, will join Grant to play several familiar piano/organ duets.

The recital, which is free and open to the public, will include “Prelude and Fugue in G Major” (Mendels- sohn), “Prelude and Fugue in C Major” (Bach), “American Folk Hymn Suite” (Burkhardt) and “Three Transcriptions for Piano and Organ” (J.S. Bach).

“Michael is a wonderful musician and his organ recitals are always a treat for the ears,” said Thompson. “He grew up playing our historic Aeolian Skinner organ and is very familiar with its capabilities. Michael never fails to bring out the best in that instrument.”

Grant began studying organ at Limestone in 1964. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance from Newberry College, a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Converse College and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America.

Grant, who currently serves as Associate Director of Music and Organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, N.C, has a rich history of organ performance. From 1975 until 1986, Grant served as the Organist/Choirmaster of the First Presbyterian Church in Danville, Va. During his tenure in Danville, he was granted a leave of absence to study French music and the music of J.S. Bach with Marie Claire Alain in Paris.

While in Paris, Grant also served as the organist of St. Michael’s English Church, the official church of the British Embassy.

From 1986 until 1996, he served as the Director of Music and Organist

at the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Va.

While working on his doctoral degree, he served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Bethesda, Md.

Before moving to Charlotte in 2000, he served on the faculty at Newberry and Limestone colleges.