St. Victor Parish and the 2006 Swiss Heritage Series of the Turner Hall of Monroe are pleased to present concert organist Dr. Olivier Eisenmann of Lucerne, Switzerland in recital on Monday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Victor Catholic Church.

Dr. Eisenmann, along with his wife, flautist Verena Steffen, will play a customized program featuring works of primarily Swiss composers from the 19th and 20th centuries. The two, who are touring the United States in October, will also be playing in New York City at St. Patrick's Cathedral and Central Synagogue, Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, and Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin.

Born in Zürich, Eisenmann studied music with his father, as well as piano at the Conservatory of Lucerne with Sava Savoff and organ with Eduard Kaufmann, professor of the Swiss Academy of Sacred Music and organist of the Collegiate Church, Lucerne. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Zürich. Besides touring throughout the world, Eisenmann has presented lectures and master classes, has written scholarly articles, and has made 19 recordings featuring a vast repertoire of organ works. Verena Steffen, with an equally distinguished career as a flautist, graduated from the Conservatory of Lucerne, where she studied under Jean Soldan, and later with André Jaunet and Heinrich Keller. She has performed throughout the world as an orchestral soloist and recitalist, with a special interest in music for flute and organ.

Eisenmann will play the recently dedicated Matthew Ronald Buholzer Memorial Pipe Organ at St. Victor Catholic Church. The three-manual instrument, a Möller pipe organ enhanced with a Rodgers electronic organ, was reconstructed and redesigned by Kelly Monette of Monette Organ Service of Waunakee, Wisconsin. Known for his craftsmanship and his tuning and voicing skills, Monette customized the combination instrument to complement the church's recent sanctuary renovation and enlivened acoustical space.

The concert, which is supported in part by Pro-Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, is cordially open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken, with a $5 minimum donation suggested. Following the recital, a reception for Eisenmann and Steffen will be held at the Ratskeller Restaurant of the Turner Hall of Monroe. Both St. Victor Church and Turner Hall are handicapped-accessible.

More information on this event is available by calling St. Victor Parish at 608-325-9506.

Turner Hall's 2006 Swiss Heritage Series offers information on other programs in the series here.