Church marks organ’s tenthanniversary with special concerts

By:Alec Moore
   Congregates of the Hillsborough Reformed Church at Millstone were treated to an evening of 17th century Dutch and North German music presented by well-known area musicians Eugene Roan and John Burkhalter on Sunday.
   "It was a beautiful concert," said Rev. Allen Buurma, who indicated that the concert was held in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the church’s mechanical-action organ.
   Joseph Heisse, organist at the church and senior choir director, said the mechanical action organ differs greatly from the more modern electronic organs, carrying a deeper and fuller tone than the electronic models.
   "The concert really demonstrated all the fantastic aspects of the organ," Mr. Heisse said, praising Mr. Roan and Mr. Burkhalter’s performance.
   Mr. Roan is a professor emeritus of organ, and a former chairman of the organ, piano and harpsichord department at Westminster Choir College. Mr. Burkhalter has studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and has prepared music for films produced by NJN, Encyclopedia Britannica and PBS.
   The church will be sponsoring another concert on Nov. 11 featuring noted local violinist Linda Chang and Mr. Heiss. There is no admission charge to the concert, however, any alms received will be donated to a local charity.