Organ Recital: Michael Rowlands (Houston, Texas)

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Prelude and Fugue on the Name BACH, S. 260

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
“Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend”, BWV 655

Rhonda Furr (b. 1953)
Celebration on Holy, Holy, Holy


Michael Rowlands Jr. developed a passion for the pipe organ and began studying as a junior in high school. Now a recent graduate of the organ performance program at Houston Baptist University (B. M. ’18), he is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Sacred Music at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music as a student of Daryl Robinson. His previous organ instructors include Dr. Rhonda Furr (Houston Baptist University) and Ken Surley (Plymouth Park UMC, Irving). 

In 2016 and 2017, Michael was invited by the Houston Bach Society to perform on the Bach Marathon, an all-day event featuring the music of J. S. Bach performed by local instrumentalists and singers. In November of 2017, he performed a solo recital for St. John of Rochester Catholic Parish (Rochester, NY) and the 2018-19 season has held performances at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Houston, Texas). 

In Fall of 2018, Michael began service as organ scholar for Houston’s premiere sacred music program, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. In 2016, he worked as an assistant to convention coordinator Rhonda Furr for the American Guild of Organists’ National Convention, held in Houston.