CONCERT WILL HELP RESTORE PIPE ORGAN AT OLD ST. VINCENT'S

During the late 1980s, Old St. Vincent's Church underwent a complete restoration that enabled it to remain open as a church. The restoration also transformed the church into a cultural center where some of Cape Girardeau's finest musical performances are now given.

Those two roles will cross paths Saturday in a benefit concert that will raise money to restore the church's pipe organ.

Heidi Bergman, a violinist and former member of the Southeast music faculty, will perform along with pianist Dr. James Sifferman. Sifferman is a member of the Southeast music faculty.

They will play music by Brahms, Bieber, De Falla and Ravel in the 7 p.m. concert.

Old St. Vincent's 1929 five-rank pipe organ has deteriorated, says Msgr. Richard Rolwing, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral. Old St. Vincent's is a Church of Ease and has no assigned priest of its own.

The organ's contacts with the keys have oxidized, the leather in the bellows has dry rot, and the connection to the wind chest is full of holes.

"It has a very weak sound," he said.

Dr. Gary Miller, a professor of organ at Southeast, has advised the church about the organ's restoration needs.

The church has set a goal of raising $250,000 toward restoring the organ or buying a new one. "We don't know if we will ever make it, but we might have a benefactor in the woods," Rolwing said.

The cost of a new pipe organ is approximately $15,000 per rank.

Ellen Seyer, a music teacher at Notre Dame High School and Southeast student Katie McCann are the church organists.

Bergman played a borrowed Stradivarius violin in a concert at Old St. Vicnent's Church in 1993 and was thrilled with the church's acoustics, Rolwing said.

She currently is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She studied at the Julliard School, the Eastman School of Music, and at the Vienna Academy of Music. She has a master's of music degree from Yale University.

Sifferman has given concerts abroad in Rome, Shanghai and Kuala Lampur, and has performed in many cities across the U.S.

He released "James Sifferman Live Vol 1.: Piano Music of Franz Liszt" in 1990. Volume 2, featuring the music of Beethoven, is due for release either this year or next.

Rolwing said this concert will launch the fund drive to restore the organ. "It depends on the success of this whether we will have similar fund raisers," he said.

"Hopes are riding high on this one."