Matthew Penning, director of worship arts and discipleship at One Ancient Hope Presbyterian church in Iowa City, will be the featured artist at Wartburg College’s Bach’s Lunch organ series recital on Friday, Feb. 6.
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.
Penning’s selections will include pieces by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn, Niels Gade, Mauri Viitala and Johann Sebastian Bach.
A native of Austin, Minnesota, Penning received his musical training at Luther College where he majored in church music and then Luther Seminary, where he earned a Master of Sacred Music. Today, he also directs the children’s choir and middle school choir at Faith Academy, an accredited private Christian school in Iowa City.
Penning also has implemented choral and handbell festivals for children, taught private lessons and created a music internship program for university students. He currently coordinates the National Undergraduate Organ Competition in Ottumwa.
In 2008, Penning rescued a Casavant organ from the University of Iowa’s flooded music arts campus. Following a five-year restoration project, the organ was installed at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, where Penning served as director of music for 20 years.
The series will continue March 13 and April 10.
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