Organ Concert to be Held at Conception Abbey

An organ concert entitled “A Benedictine Liturgical Year” will be held at Conception Abbey at 8PM Thursday, June 2, 2016 in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Conception Abbey is happy to host Br. Dunstan Townsend, OSB of the Companions St. Luke for a recital of works by Benedictine composers ranging from the 16th to 21st centuries. Composers included in the recital are Adriano Banchieri, Dom Paul Benoit, Narcis Casanoves, Michael Anicetus McCabe, Valenin Rathgeber, and Christopher Uehlein, all who are members of the larger confederation of Benedictine monks worldwide. 

The organist, Brother Dunstan Townsend, OSB received a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in 1977, studying organ and harpsichord with Dr. Charles Schilling. During the summer of 1977 he was a student at the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon, England, studying organ with Christopher Herrick, who was then sub-organist of Westminster Abbey. In the late 1980’s graduate studies in harpsichord were taken with Professor Sylvia Ghiglieri at California State University, Stanislaus. Br. Dunstan has served as organist and choirmaster at Lutheran (2 synods), Roman Catholic, and Episcopal parishes in and around Stockton, California for the last 40 years. He is currently organist at The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist in Stockton, one of the historic churches founded in 1850. Br. Dunstan professed final vows in the Episcopal-Benedictine community of the Companions of St. Luke in June 2015. He serves the Companions as one of the community organists, as well as Oblate Formation Master.

“A Benedictine Liturgical Year” is part of a series of events to be held at Conception Abbey to celebrate the 125 year Anniversary of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, which serves as the spiritual hub of the monks of Conception Abbey.  

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