Press Release
April 5, 2018
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
“Music of the Big Band Era” To Be Theme for Next Kilgen Organ Performance at Oklahoma History Center
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center announces the next in its series of Kilgen Theater Organ performances. “Music of the Big Band Era” will feature artist Ken Double on the Kilgen organ with trombone accompaniment by Irv Wagner on Monday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in the Devon Great Hall of the Oklahoma History Center. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members. Tickets may be reserved by calling 405-522-0765. There are no reserved seats, so early arrival is recommended.
Ken Double began his training and appreciation for organ performance at age eight while growing up in Chicago, Ill. A high school field trip to a local theater further defined that appreciation in the direction of theater organs when he was given the opportunity to play the Wurlitzer theater organ at that theater. Double received a degree in radio-television from Butler University in Indianapolis and, while working his first job in broadcasting in Lafayette, Ind., he started playing locally at the Long Center and continued to do so over the next 32 years. Ken has played nationally and has toured Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has served as president and chief executive of the American Theatre Organ Society for a number of years, working diligently to raise funds, raise awareness, create new and exciting programs, and help steer the 58-year-old organization in a new direction to ensure its growth and existence for another 50 years and more. “It is not often that one gets paid to have fun for a living. Nice work if you can get it,” said Double.
To enhance the “Big Band Era” theme, Double will be accompanied by local University of Oklahoma music professor and trombonist, Dr. Irv Wagner. Wagner is a founding member of the Oklahoma Brass Quintet, and has been named as a David Ross Boyd Professor. Wagner conducts the popular OU Trombone Choir. He is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the conductor for many of that orchestra's Pops concerts. Wagner's compositions and arrangements are in demand by many major symphony orchestras and trombone choirs.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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