'MAKING MUSIC HAPPEN IN THIS BUILDING'

Donna Cronk / Courier-Times photo // Master Organist Mary Ragna Yetter plays on First Presbyterian Church in New Castle's massive pipe organ.

A reprint of my Sunday feature in The Courier-Times.

by Donna Cronk

The public is invited to the first of four annual concerts sponsored by First Presbyterian Church in New Castle. The first one is an hour-long organ concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9 in the sanctuary at 1202 Church St.

Presenting the concert is Mary Ragna Yetter, the church’s new director of music, with a program called Summer Wind Pipes. A fellowship reception will follow.

Selections include such pieces as “The Emperor’s Fanfare,” by Antonio Soler; “Sonata II in C Minor,” by Felix Mendelssohn; “Prelude” by Louis Vierne, “Adagio in G Minor,” by Tomaso Albinoni and an offering written by former local resident Robert A. Hobby, “Glorious Things of You Are Spoken.”

A special treat will feature “Haydn Clockworks,” which are little pieces of music written for high-end 18th-century clocks.

For Yetter, her work is about “making music happen in this building.”

That includes directing the choir, playing the church’s massive pipe organ, and producing various special musical performances throughout the year.

Yetter anticipates that the upcoming organ concert’s musical selections will “show off the sounds of this instrument.” She said this organ has incredibly good sound.

First Presbyterian Pastor Rev. Rod Smith says that Yetter brings “years and years training and experience, both in the USA and internationally, to one of the finest pipe organs in the state. I think of it as a perfect match of refined skills, talent, love of craft, brought to an instrument that knowledgeable musicians crave to play.”

Originally from Oklahoma, Yetter has been interested in the organ since she was a small child. Her mother took lessons but had to give them up. The daughter then started taking them at about age 5 and has been at it ever since. She played throughout high school and assumed she would continue playing and learning about her instrument.

Majoring in organ performance was the natural next step and she earned a bacehlor’s degree from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, a certificate of advanced study from the Royal College of Music in London, England, and has a master of music degree from the University of Memphis.
Yetter also plays harpsichord and violin, and has performed with a variety of orchestras, chamber groups, choruses and in solo concerts.

Since moving to Anderson last summer, Yetter has served as Anderson University organist. Throughout her adult years, she has been a professional organist and choir director at various churches in several states and in Ireland. Her husband, Erich, is an assistant professor of dance at Anderson University. They reside in Anderson and are parents to three grown children.
“In the arts, you go to wherever the job is,” says the master organist.

Yetter has taught both organ and piano in the past and is open to continuing that in the future.  When she isn’t involved with music, Yetter enjoys reading, cooking and their pet dog, Shiloh.

She’s delighted by the welcome she has received at the New Castle church.

“They really are wonderful people,” says Yetter. “They really want to be singing and they are so appreciative. They really have just welcomed me here.”

Smith says the church historically maintained a strong music program and that the new director has arrived at a crucial and exciting time.

She says, “They needed me at exactly the same time that I needed them.”

Adds Smith, “I can’t wait for Mary Ragna’s first public concert and for her to unveil the musicians who’ll play at the four we are planning for each calendar year.”

She invites everyone to come enjoy the program and fellowship. “I just want it to be joyful,” she says. 

Donna Cronk / Courier-Times Photo// Mary Ragna Yetter will perform Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m. in a free organ concert. You are invited.