Acclaimed Organist to Highlight Concert at New Bedford Parish

Internationally acclaimed organist Dr. Michal Szostak of Poland will perform on the historic 113-year old pipe organ at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford on May 25 at 3 p.m. as part of the church's concert and recital series.

Gisele Pappas, Music Coordinator at St. Anthony, visited Townsquare Sunday to promote the concert. We also spoke with Dr. Szostak from Warsaw.

Szostak told us he was looking forward to his visit to New Bedford, which is part of his North America tour.

"I have performed many recitals on many different types of organs, but with the organ at St. Anthony being historical, I'm confident that many interesting sounds will be heard by the audience, and it will be fun for me," he said.

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Admission to the concert is free, but organizers are asking for a $10 donation to keep up with repairs for the pipe organ.

"The organ is not broken and is being played continually," Pappas said. "We need to replace what I call the 'lungs' of the organ, the section that holds the air before it goes into the pipes."

Preferred seating for the May 25 concert is available for a $20 donation. You can pre-register at MusicatSaintAnthonys.org or make your donation at the door.

"It is crucial that we save instruments like this, and they must be maintained properly," Szostak said. "There are many moving parts, so keeping the machine working is a major obligation. The Casavant organ at St. Anthony has produced sound through many generations and should be considered a national treasure."

Pappas said many at St. Anthony consider the pipe organ to be part of their "church family."

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