The organist at First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge knows people generally hear patriotic hymns only once a year, so he decided to make a bigger show of them around July 4.
Brett Zumsteg, who is also the church’s musical director, will perform such pieces as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and a collection of river songs in a concert at 6 p.m. Sunday.
To get everyone in the mood for the one-hour recital, the church balcony will be decorated with red and blue lights, and audience members will receive a small flag.
“I do it just for the fun of it,” Zumsteg said. “It’s not as heavy as a normal organ recital. It’s less serious.”
Zumsteg, who has a doctorate in organ performance from Northwestern University, has served as church organist for the past decade.
He plays an organ with 2,800 pipes.
The recital idea was born two years ago around the 4th of July when Zumsteg played a rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever” at the end of a church service.
The response led him to create the patriotic recital. The first one last year drew more than 100 people.
“This is music that can be played only once a year,” Zumsteg said.
The performance is free, and afterward, the church will host an ice cream social. The church is at 418 W. Touhy Ave.
