Organist Colin Andrews to Perform at John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Organist Colin Andrews will perform at the fifth annual John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ Recital Series at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 21, 2025, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque. The recital is part of the 13th annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series.

Since his debut at the age of 18, Andrews has been recognized as a musician of great versatility, power, and artistry. Born in Bristol, England, he initially studied with Garth Benson of St. Mary Redcliffe Church in his hometown. At 16, Andrews entered London's Royal Academy of Music for four years of organ and piano study. He later moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a student at the Conservatoire de Musique before his return to Britain for private studies.

Andrews has been the recipient of numerous awards. Most notably, he was a prizewinner at the 1980 and 1982 Dublin International Organ Competition in Ireland and the Royal Academy of Music in London bestowed an associateship upon him in 1993 in recognition of his distinguished performing career.

As a solo recitalist, Andrews has toured worldwide at many prestigious venues including the Royal Festival Hall in London, England; King's College in Cambridge, England; the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia; the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France; Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan; and more. He has recorded 30 broadcasts for the BBC and has appeared in local and national television in the U.S., Russia, Poland, the U.K., Japan, and New Zealand. Additionally, he has released 14 CDs.

Andrews is one of only four organists in the world to have recorded the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen. In 2012, Andrews was named "Membre d'Honneur" of the "Association Grand Orgue Trinite Messiaen" based at the composer's church, Eglise de la Sainte Trinite in Paris, France, where Messiaen served for 61 years. Andrews recording of Messiaen's L'Ascension and Messe de la Pentecote was voted into the Top 10 sacred music recordings for 2012 by Christianity Today.

As an active teacher and lecturer, Andrews has given presentations at, among other venues, the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in Birmingham, England. He has served as a jury member for the International Organ Competition at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the J.P. Sweelinck Competition in Gdansk, Poland. Andrews was jury president and recitalist for the 2006 Felix Nowowiejski Organ Competition in Poznan, Poland. He also served as a national councilor and local president of the Incorporated Association of Organists in the U.K. Among his church positions has been a 12-year tenure as organist and master of the choristers at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where Andrews led the choir from his parish on a concert tour of British cathedrals.

Andrews is currently a visiting professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, and director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Indiana.

The John and Alice Butler Pipe Organ was dedicated in May 2021 and has 3,033 pipes. The pipe organ has enhanced campus events and been utilized as a practice and recital instrument. UD Trustee John Butler (DHL'17) and his spouse, Alice (DHL'17), gifted the instrument. Dobson Pipe Organ Builders built and installed the pipe organ - the 97th new organ built by the firm.

Tickets may be purchased now! Stop by the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street; call 563.585.7469; or visit www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter to purchase tickets. The box office is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events.

The Heritage Performing Arts Loyalty System (H-PALS) allows patrons to earn rewards with most ticket purchases. For every $200 spent on eligible events, patrons will receive one free ticket (valued up to $50) to their choice of eligible event. Reward points are redeemable for Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series events only. Visit www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter for more details.