Rodney Barbour bringing concert to Parkersburg
PARKERSBURG — Rodney Barbour of Cincinnati will be in concert at First Presbyterian Church, 1341 Juliana St., on Sunday at 6 p.m.
The concert is free and open to all.
Barbour is a concert organist with close to 50 years experience as an organist, pianist, keyboardist, trombonist, adult choir director, youth and children’s choir director, handbell director, brass director, instrumental conductor, worship leader, liturgist, contemporary worship band director and entertainer.
With degrees in Music Education from Marshall University in his hometown of Huntington and in Organ Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, Barbour’s training and background give him skill and technique to feel comfortable in a wide variety of musical venues, according to a news release.
Barbour conducts Handel’s Messiah with the Crestview Church chancel choir and orchestra, plays “charge” at the Cincinnati Reds’ Riverfront Stadium and plays trombone in the Barnum and Bailey Ringling Bros. Circus Band.
“Whether playing the world’s largest digital pipe combination organ in Hurricane, W.Va., or pumping out accordion riffs with a local worship band, Rodney brings passion and musical excellence to his performances,” the release states. “Through his lively dialogue and sense of humor, Rodney engages, entertains and educates his audiences as suggested by this quote from a recent performance: ‘Rodney’s tremendous programming ability and the flourish with which he registers and plays his repertoire is the reason we keep coming back to him. The concert was a smashing, delightful success (two standing ovations).'”
Barbour and his wife, Cheri, enjoy golfing, biking and photography. He is director of worship and arts at Crestview Presbyterian Church, West Chester, Ohio, and travels across the United States for concerts and educational events.