John Stender, director of music and organist at First Presbyterian Church in Rochester, Minn., will be the featured artist at Wartburg College’s Bach’s Lunch on Friday, March 14.

A free lecture will begin at noon in the Wartburg Chapel Commons, followed by a recital at 12:30 p.m. in the Wartburg Chapel sanctuary.

His concert will include “Preces” from “Diptyque Liturgique” by Jean Jacques Grunenwald, “My Home in Glory” from Aspects of Glory by Libby Larsen and “Prelude and Fugue in c minor, Op. 37, No. 1” by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy among other pieces.

Stender, who has served in his current role since 2019, supports a multi-faceted sacred music ministry, a fourth through 12th grade band program and the church’s concert series. He has written, arranged and orchestrated numerous compositions for practical use in music programs where he has served. Stender also serves as a guest conductor, leads choral workshops and plays the keyboard as a guest artist.

He earned a master’s degree in 2015 from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in organ and sacred music and his undergraduate degree from Luther College in organ and church music, and religion.

Participants are invited to bring their lunch to eat at the lecture.