John Painter's path to the organ bench at Christ Episcopal Church is anything but ordinary. A Schuylkill Valley High School graduate who went on to earn degrees from Bard College and the Manhattan School of Music, Painter has served congregations across Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, performed recitals in the United States and France, and even spent six years teaching in Morocco — all while honing one of the most deeply trained musical minds in the region.

Now settled back in Reading, Painter brings that extraordinary breadth of experience to the Fall Festival of the Arts with an organ recital in the sanctuary of Christ Church. Expect an evening of masterful playing, featuring works from the French repertoire and J.S. Bach — performed on what Painter himself calls one of the finest instruments he has ever played.