NEW ZEALAND ORGANIST AT SIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Gillian Weir, an international concert organist, will perform a free recital Oct. 21, at Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

The concert will begin at 8 p.m.

Born in New Zealand, Weir's repertoire is vast and varied, ranging from Sweelink and the Baroque masters to the many works by contemporary composers such as Fricker, Camilleri, Messiaen, Mathias and Robin Holloway.

In her 1989 six-part television series for BBC-2 titled "The King of Instruments," she was both performer and presenter for a survey of famous organs from six countries.

Weir will display her technique on the six-ton Reuter Pipe Organ in Shryock Auditorium. With a compendium of three manuals, 58 ranks, thousands of pipes, pedals and electronic gadgetry, the organ is one of the most complex of its kind in the region.

The concert will be the third annual recital of the Distinguished Organ Recital Series. The event will be preceded by a buffet dinner served from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the SIUC Student Ball Room B.

The buffet features sliced London broil and marinated grilled chicken breast for $8.50 plus tax.

Reservations can be made by calling (618) 453-1130 by Oct. 17.