Concert and recording artist Christa Rakich is Artist-in-Residence at the Congregational Church of Somers. She also directs the music program at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford. She has served on the faculties of Westminster Choir College, Brandeis University, New England Conservatory, and the University of Connecticut, and as Assistant University Organist at Harvard. Other Artist-in-Residencies have included the University of Pennsylvania and First Lutheran Church in Boston.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Christa Rakich studied for two years with 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 receipt of her Master’s degree with honors from New England Conservatory, she was asked to join the faculty there, where she taught for many years, ultimately as department co-chair.
A prizewinner at international organ competitions (notably Bruges 1976), Rakich has received particular acclaim for her interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach. With keyboardist Peter Sykes, she performed a complete cycle of Bach’s keyboard works in a series of 34 concerts from 2003 to 2005 aptly named Tuesdays With Sebastian. The concerts raised a total of $20,000 for Boston area charities.
With keyboardist Susan Ferré, Rakich is a founding performer of the Big Moose Bach Festival in Berlin, New Hampshire. Recordings include Bach’s Clavierübung III, Leipzig Chorales and Trio Sonatas. Further details may be found at www.bachleipzigchorales.com and www.bachtrios.com.
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