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Organ Concert
Where: St Pete First UMC
212 3rd St. N
Downtown St. Petersburg
(free parking!)
When: Friday, March 14, 2025
7 pm
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On Friday, March 14 at 7:00 PM, St. Pete First United Methodist Church will present the inaugural organ concert with world-renowned organist Samuel Metzger playing the church's new pipe organ. Mr Metzger plays concerts around the country and has recorded seven CDs. He currently serves as Organist & Music Associate at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Nashville, TN.
"Samuel Metzger is a world-class organist, and he was carefully selected to present the first concert with our new organ, a custom four-manual Walker hybrid pipe organ with 54 ranks of pipes and 160 digital ranks. This new instrument blends seamlessly with our beautiful historic sanctuary for an immersive spiritual and musical experience,” said Derek Weston, Sr. Dir. of Church Operations.
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Concert Information
The performance on March 14 is free of charge, and while no tickets are required, it is suggested that patrons arrive early to guarantee seating. A free-will offering will be collected to support the purchase of a much-needed shower trailer. Mr. Metzger will be performing a variety of repertoire that will demonstrate the features of the new Walker organ.
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Historic Inaugural Organ Concert to Raise Funds for Unhoused
St. Pete First UMC has been a pillar of service to the community of downtown St. Petersburg for over 100 years, and this concert will provide funding to expand their outreach ministry by purchasing a portable shower trailer to enhance the monthly Born to Serve program, which includes showers, haircuts, healthcare, and meals for unhoused individuals. “A shower means a lot to someone who hasn’t had one in a while,” said Craig Wills, Facilities Director
and volunteer with Born to Serve. “I have seen how a simple shower can change someone’s life!”
Founded in 1889, St. Pete First United Methodist Church’s mission is to Love. St. Pete. This concert supports the church’s goal to meet unmet needs of the community.
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About Samual Metzger​​​
Samuel Metzger was born in Rochester, NY, but from an early age grew up in northern Arizona where his father was a missionary to the Navajo Indians. Early studies were at Northern Arizona State University in Flagstaff, where he was accepted into the Preparatory School of Music as a student of Dr. Marilyn Brandon. In high school he studied with Dr. Roy Johnson at the University of Arizona, Tucson.
Mr. Metzger began undergraduate studies in 1990 at Arizona State University where he was a student of Robert Clark. There he studied on a Regents Scholarship and at graduation was named “Most Outstanding Undergraduate in Performance.” In 1995 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and began studies with Jon Laukvik at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, Germany. He was awarded a second Fulbright Scholarship and in 1997 graduated with a degree of Künstleriches Aufbaustudium (KA). Mr. Metzger then went on to study with Marie-Claire Alain in St. Germain-en-Laye, France.
In January 2003, Mr. Metzger became Senior Organist at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (PCA), Fort Lauderdale, FL, the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, Senior Pastor. Services were broadcast on the Coral Ridge Hour, a TV program that was broadcast throughout the USA and internationally to 202 countries. Samuel then served as Director of Music at Second Presbyterian Church (EPC), Memphis TN.
Samuel is currently Organist & Music Associate at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Nashville, TN. Mr. Metzger is heard regularly around the country in concert. He has recorded seven CDs; more information may be found at metzgermusic.com.
