VALPARAISO | The organist at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany n where Johann Sebastian Bach worked and composed many of his most famous works n will present an all-Bach recital Oct. 8 at Valparaiso University.

Ullrich Böhme, organist at St. Thomas Church, is touring the United States and will perform at Valparaiso's Chapel of the Resurrection at 7:30 p.m. The recital, sponsored by Valparaiso's Bach Institute and Frederick J. Kruse Endowment for Church Music, is free and open to the public.

Since Böhme was appointed organist at St. Thomas Church in 1985, his responsibilities have included solo organ work at services and concerts of St. Thomas Church. Böhme also developed the concept of a new Bach organ for the church that was dedicated in 2000, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the composer's death.

Böhme regularly tours Europe, North America and Japan and has made numerous recordings of Bach's works. He is a professor at Leipzig Conservatory of Music and Drama and has served as an adviser to numerous organ restoration projects. A reception will follow his recital.

The VU Bach Institute is exploring Johann Sebastian Bach's career at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig n where he worked and composed many of his most famous works n through a series of performances and lectures during the current academic year.

Christopher Cock, Bach Institute director and Duesenberg professor of Lutheran church music, notes that Valparaiso has a special connection to St. Thomas Church. In 2007, Dr. Cock led Valparaiso's Chorale on a tour of historic German churches that included a residency at St. Thomas Church n the first by a choir from the United States. The Chorale n one of the nation's premier Lutheran collegiate choirs n performed four concerts at the church during its residency.

Upcoming programs sponsored by the Bach Institute include an Oct. 12 joint performance by the Bach Choir and Chorale, a Jan. 22-24 symposium "Bach and the St. Thomas Church" and an April 5 Passion Vespers performance " featuring the Bach Choir.

The Bach Institute was founded in 2003 with a gift from VU alumni Richard and Phyllis Duesenberg and is dedicated to the study and performance of Bach and his music. "Dona Nobis Pacem," a recording of live performances of works by J.S. Bach, was produced by the Bach Institute and released in 2006. For more information, visit the Bach Institute's Web site at valpo.edu/bach.

--For The Times