The hills of SLO are alive ...

The hills of San Luis Obispo are alive with the sound of organ music.
The Performing Arts Center pulls out the stops this week with a series of concerts and other events highlighting its brand-new Forbes pipe organ.
The festivities kick off tonight with a sold-out solo organ recital by Todd Wilson, chair of the Organ Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
He’ll play selections by Bach, Mozart and Maurice Duruflé.
Wilson serves as music director and organist at The Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, Ohio. He’s also the organ curator at Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Music fans can learn more about the organ Tuesday at a free brown-bag lunch and lecture. The staff of renowned organ builder C.B. Fisk will explain and demonstrate what makes the massive instrument work.
On Wednesday, Wilson will perform with the San Luis Obispo Symphony and a community choir.
Members of the public are invited to take their own turn at the keyboard on Sunday. Would-be organists can sign up for 10-minutes slots following a brief orientation.
All events will be held at the Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo.
For more information or to buy tickets, call 756-2787 or visit the PAC Web site.

THE SCHEDULE:

Solo organ recital
8 p.m., tonight
Sold out

Brown-bag lecture
Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday
Free

Organ concert
8 p.m., Wednesday
Sold out

Open Keyboard session
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday (June 17)
Free

ABOUT THE ORGAN:
Built by C.B. Fisk of Gloucester, Mass., the pipe organ is three stories tall and features more than 2,700 pipes ranging from 32 feet long to the length and width of a pencil.
It’s a gift to the PAC from Burt and Candee Forbes, founders of the local computer development firm Ziatech Corp.

Organ concert changes hands

Music lovers will see a new face at the keyboard when the Performing Arts Center’s pipe organ debuts this summer.
French organist Olivier Latry was scheduled to play June 11 and 13 to herald the organ’s arrival in San Luis Obispo. However, the organist at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral injured his arm in a fall, PAC officials said.
His replacement is Todd Wilson, chair of the Organ Department at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Wilson is organist and director of music at the Church of the Covenant in Cleveland, as well as organ curator at Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra.
He played at the dedication of the organ at Salt Lake City’s Mormon Conference Center and served as organ soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

ABOUT THE CONCERTS:
Although the June 11 recital is sold out, tickets are still available for the June 13 concert featuring Wilson, the San Luis Obispo Symphony and a community choir.
Tickets are $25. For more information, contact the PAC ticket office at 756-2787.
In addition, PAC officials are organizing two educational events for the public.
On June 12, staff with legendary organ builder C.B. Fisk will discuss the pipe organ’s design and construction during a brown-bag lunch.
Local organ enthusiasts can take a turn “pulling out the stops” during a free open keyboard session on June 17. Sign up in May to reserve your 10 minutes of playing time.

ABOUT THE ORGAN:
Built by C.B. Fisk of Gloucester, Mass., the pipe organ is three stories tall and features more than 2,700 pipes ranging from 32 feet to the length and width of a pencil.
It’s a gift to the PAC from Burt and Candee Forbes, founders of the local computer development firm Ziatech Corp.

-- Sarah L.