The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s (GRPM) welcomes back Dave Wickerham for two holiday performances on the Mighty Wurlizter Theater Organ Dec.16 and 17.
Wickerham began playing the organ at the age of four. He then began his studies of the instrument at seven and carried out his formal studies of the classical organ at the University of Arizona. His career of organist has led him to travel across the country, as well as across the world. Throughout this career, he has been a Staff Organist at various venues including Organ Stop Pizza Restaurants, Pipes and Pizza, and Piper Music Palace, as well as internationally for the Theatre Organ Society of Australia, touring in Australia and New Zealand. Wicker ham and his family currently live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he holds the position of co-manager and organist in residence at the historic Crystal Theatre in Crystal Falls.
Organ concerts are held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM. Tickets for this show do sell out, according to Public Museum officials. Tickets for individual concerts are $10 for the general public, $8 for Museum members, and $5 for children 17 and under. Tickets are available by visiting www.grpm.org/Organ or calling 616-456-3977.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ
The Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York, manufactured and shipped Opus #1836, a “3 manual special,” to the Stanley Theater of Jersey City, New Jersey, on Feb. 9, 1928. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
