Artist Brings Personal Quest to Cedar Rapids
First Lutheran's 2025 "Great American Organists" Concert
First Lutheran Church’s 2025 Musical Arts series season continues with its Great American Organists concert on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 PM. Dr. Gail Archer presents her Concert For Peace, part of a national tour featuring works by Ukrainian and Russian composers from the Romantic period to the present day.
Ms. Archer is an international concert organist, recording artist, choral conductor and lecturer. She is organist at Vassar College and director of the music program at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she conducts the Barnard-Columbia Chorus and Chamber Singers. She is a faculty member of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, and is artistic director of the artist and young artist recital series at historic Central Synagogue, New York City. Ms. Archer’s 2024 European tour took her to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Germany, France, Italy and the island of Menorca.
Dr. Archer’s Concert For Peace tour is a one-woman quest to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and to provide relief to Ukrainian citizens through freewill donations. In an interview with Virginia Public Media Ms. Archer said, “I have been to Eastern Europe and Ukraine every year since 2015, and to Russia since 2013. Ever since this war began this is something I have been devoted to because I have friends in both countries… every cent goes to charitable organizations for Ukraine. The violence and destruction has been incredible. Every day I pray for peace there.
Dr. Archer began singing in a church choir at the age of 8, and became immediately fascinated by the pipe organ there. When she grew tall enough for her feet to reach the pedals she began her organ studies while continuing her passion for choral music. Both interests eventually led her to scholarship in Eastern Europe, where she became keenly interested in the work of composers there. “The artistic contributions of composers in the region are extraordinary, but this is music that Western Europe and America does not know at all."
