Over 325 people rose to their feet in a chorus of acclamation as concert organist Dr. David Hurd played his final note. “Tonight surpassed my wildest hopes and expectations,” thought the Rev. Canon Ellis Brust, rector of St. Andrew’s, Fort Pierce, as he joined the applause for the church’s inaugural organ concert, held on April 30.

Following the installation of the new St. Andrew’s A.E. Schlueter pipe organ in April 2022, Brust and St. Andrew’s organist and director of music, Dr. Thomas Goetz, began to dream about an inaugural concert that would celebrate the craftsmanship of the organ and showcase the musical potential of such an instrument.

“Early in the process, our senior verger, Wendell P. Russell Jr., mentioned that he has been a lifelong friend of Dr. David Hurd, the renowned composer, music professor and organist,” explained Goetz. “I immediately thought what an excellent choice Dr. Hurd would be, since he has been at the forefront of church music and organ performance all of his life.”

In addition to being a concert organist, Hurd is also a composer, known for his artfully crafted pieces. He currently serves as organist and choirmaster at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Times Square in New York City.

The Rev. Canon Ellis Brust (front) welcomes and introduces Michael Barone (L), David Hurd (R) and other special guests in attendance. | Photo: Marisol Guntkowski Photography

Hurd agreed to perform, and the details of the concert began to take shape. “I was thrilled that Dr. Hurd was available to play this first recital on the new organ,” Goetz said. “Most church musicians around the state know of his sterling reputation as a composer and organist, and I knew that they would want to attend such an event.”

He was right. The sanctuary was nearly at capacity with attendees from at least five counties, some coming from as far away as the Gulf Coast. Special guests included the Rt. Rev. and Mrs. Gregory O. Brewer and the Honorable Linda Hudson, mayor of Fort Pierce.

The evening’s program was hosted by Michael Barone, senior executive producer and host of Pipedreams at Minnesota Public Radio, who provided commentary and insight into the design and construction of the organ as well as interviewing the organ builder, Arthur Schlueter III, and Hurd. Music included works from Baroque composers Nicolaus Bruhns and J.S. Bach and the French Romantic composer Louis Vierne along with original compositions by Hurd.

The highlight of the evening, however, was Hurd’s improvisation of two hymns presented to him in a sealed envelope for his final performance of the evening. The two hymns, chosen by Brust and Goetz, were “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Dr. David Hurd plays the new A.E. Schlueter pipe organ. | Photo: Marisol Guntkowski Photography

“We thought it would be very interesting to juxtapose the most famous Easter hymn of all time with the African American hymn of thanksgiving and prayer for freedom and faithfulness,” Goetz said. “The two tunes are very different, yet Dr. Hurd was able to deftly combine them in an inspiring improvisation that was a beautiful expression of resurrection alleluias and ‘the harmonies of liberty.'”

The improvisation lasted more than eight minutes and left the audience stunned. “We heard 2,147 pipes singing together in harmony,” Goetz said.

For Brust, the evening represented something more than musical talents alone. “Music has the power to transcend time,” he said. “Compositions that touched hearts hundreds of years ago did the same thing in Fort Pierce on an April evening in 2023. Through the founding of this city, storms, wars, economic and social changes, and two worldwide pandemics, St. Andrew’s has been here, and will continue to be here, to love and serve our community as we seek to build bridges of grace to take the love of Jesus Christ into the world.”

Following the standing ovation, as guests made their way to the reception, musical notes rang out from the huge organ once more. Not Bach, not Bruhns, but rather “Hot Cross Buns,” played by an 8-year-old budding musician as Barone watched. Through an inaugural concert, bridges of grace were extended to a new generation inspired by an old practice.

Who knows? Maybe that 8-year-old is a concert organist in the making who will one day stand on a stage and say, “It all started at St. Andrew’s.”