OU honoring famed organist Diane Bish

NORMAN — The American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma School of Music will pull out all the stops — organ and otherwise — this weekend to honor organist Diane Bish, an OU alumna and worldwide ambassador for the pipe organ.

Bish is arguably the most visible organist in the world today and is best known as the host of the international television series, “The Joy of Music.” Since 1982, she has hosted and produced the TV series, which reaches more than 300 million people and, more recently, has begun posting selected YouTube performances to a large viewership around the world. Bish’s performances have received rave critical reviews and standing room only audiences for organ recitals for nearly half a century.

An endowed organ scholarship in Bish’s name is being created to honor her legacy and relationship to OU, according to a news release.

The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with a dinner in Bish’s honor at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on OU’s Norman campus. On Sunday, choir and brass ensembles from the OU School of Music will join the American Organ Institute’s faculty and students to perform a concert featuring music composed and arranged by Bish, as well as other favorite works, at 3 p.m. at OU’s Gothic Hall.

The gala will culminate in a Champagne reception following the concert, where Bish will greet guests. Seating is limited. Full ticket, event and scholarship details are available at www.ou.edu/aoi.