REXBURG—This Tuesday night, BYU-Idaho alumnus Jason Gunnell will sit down at the Rufatti Organ in the Barrus Concert Hall to play some of his favorite music. He's familiar with the instrument from when he was a student, but has had few opportunities to play it since graduating in 2007.
"It's kind of been fun to rediscover the instrument and get to know it again," Gunnell said.
Gunnell received a Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance from BYU-Idaho, a Master of Music in Church Music/Organ Performance from The University of Kansas in 2011 and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2014.
He now works as the associate director of music and the organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio, which is near Cincinnati. He also occasionally teaches organ workshops at Brigham Young University and is one of the few organists who can play the Tabernacle Organ at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has only a few paid organists, he has built his career playing the organ during services at churches outside of his own faith.
He says he has built a great relationship with the rector of St. Thomas and enjoys being part of the community there.
"The music is fantastic. I view it as an opportunity that I have to worship through music," he said.
Some of his favorite music includes choral music from the Anglican Church tradition as well as Bach and other great organ pieces. His recital Tuesday night will be built around Max Reger's "Choralphantasie," which Gunnell calls monumental.
He'll also play music by Bach, David Chamberlin and Darwin Wolford, who was one of Gunnell's teachers while at BYU-Idaho.
"It's just a program that I quite like and hope that the listeners will like as well," Gunnell said.
The free concert is Tuesday night at 7:30 in the Barrus Concert Hall in the Snow Building at BYU-Idaho. A live stream is also available.