Hayashi Memorial 2021

Crista Rakich performs at Old West in memory of Yuko Hayashi.

Friday, November 12th, 7:30 p.m.

A recital to benefit the Old West Organ Society.

Tickets are $25. All proceeds benefit the Old West Organ Society. 

When making your purchase, please consider donating additional tickets, which will be offered to student organists who may otherwise not be able to attend. 

Students wishing to request a complimentary ticket should click here.

Use this form to reserve your tickets for this special event. Reserved tickets will be held at will-call, and may be retrieved upon arrival to the concert. 

Upon submission of this form, you will be prompted to click a PayPal button to complete your transaction with any major credit card. 

Even if you can't attend the concert, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Old West Organ Society by filling in your "total" and proceeding to the PayPal link. 

If you prefer instead to send a check in the mail, the address will be provided upon clicking "Submit."

About Christa Rakich

Concert and recording artist Christa Rakich performs widely throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. She is Visiting Professor of Organ at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio through the academic year 2020-2021. Near her home in Connecticut, she maintains two Artist-in-Residencies: St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford and the Congregational Church of Somers. Past Artist-in-Residencies have included the University of Pennsylvania and First Lutheran Church in Boston.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Christa Rakich studied with renowned Bach interpreter Anton Heiller at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Organ and German from Oberlin College (Phi Beta Kappa).  After receiving her Master’s degree with honors from New England Conservatory, she joined the faculty there, teaching for many years, and serving ultimately as department co-chair. She has also served on the faculties of Westminster Choir College, Brandeis University, and the University of Connecticut, and as Assistant University Organist at Harvard.

An avid collaborator, Christa Rakich frequently performs with her colleague Susan Ferré at the Big Moose Bach Festival in New Hampshire. With flutist Wendy Rolfe and gambist Alice Robbins, she is a founding member of the Marion Baroque Ensemble, based in Massachusetts, and was for many years keyboardist for the Fanfare Consort, a Connecticut-based ensemble that included baroque trumpet, strings, lute, organ, and harpsichord. With cellist Kathleen Schiano, Rakich commissioned and premiered a Sonata for Organ and Cello by Dutch composer Margaretha Christina de Jong.

One of her recent concerts for the Boston Clavichord Society, an organization she also serves as Vice-President, included a performance with clavichordist Erica Johnson of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony on 2 clavichords.

A prizewinner at international organ competitions, Rakich has received particular acclaim for her interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach. She has recorded his Clavierübung III, Leipzig Chorales, and Trio Sonatas.