Edgar Highberger celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as minister of music and organist of the First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he oversees a comprehensive program of choirs, handbell ensembles, and a concert series, now in its fortieth year.
Charles Callahan was commissioned by the church to write Suite of Five English Hymn Tunes, which he performed at a celebratory concert on December 12, along with works by Alexandre Guilmant (teacher of Bertram Smith Webber, organist of First Presbyterian Church at the turn of the 20th century) and Gordon Balch Nevin (organist of the church in the early decades of the 20th century).
Highberger was associate professor of music and university organist at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Named Professor of the Year in 2005 and recipient of the 2009 faculty award for Excellence in Liberal Arts Teaching, he continues to teach organ and sacred music as an adjunct associate professor. He founded the Seton Hill University Chapter of the American Guild of Organists in 1983. Highberger was accompanist for the Westmoreland Choral Society from 1977 until 2010.
The Ed Highberger Music Fund, established with gifts at the anniversary celebration, will be used to enhance the musical offerings at the church.
A compact disc entitled Celebration: Fifty Years of Preludes and Postludes, a sequel to Mr. Highberger’s disc entitled Signature Preludes and Postludes, was produced for the occasion. Five of its nineteen organ pieces are performed with instrumentalists who are colleagues of Highberger. His wife, Joanne Salvador Highberger, reads poetry from the works of John Dryden and John Milton which offer tribute to what Mozart referred to as “The King of Instruments.” Both discs are available through the church office: [email protected].
