Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Eschbach is the son of Judge Jesse and Mary Eschbach, now living in Florida. Judge Eschbach was a native of Warsaw and practiced law here as a senior partner in Graham, Rasor, Eschbach and Harris and was politically active locally and statewide. He also served as executive vice president of Endicott Church Furniture Inc. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed him judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, and in 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed him judge of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
The younger Eschbach shared many hours of organ music with his Warsaw neighbors under the guidance of organist Jeannette Perry. He went on to graduate from Indiana University and the University of Michigan, where he was a student of Robert Glasgow. He completed his formal education during a five-year residency in Paris as a student of Marie-Claire Alain, in her conservatory class at Rueil-Malmaison. He specialized in early French music and was awarded a Prix d'Excellence and a Prix de Virtuosit. As one of the last students of the legendary Marie-Madelein Durufl-Chevalier, he studied the complete organ works of her husband, Maurice Durafl, as well as much of the French symphonic repertoire.
Since 1986, Eschbach has served on the faculty at the University of North Texas as the full-time professor of organ, instructing performance majors at all levels, and is chairman of the division of keyboard studies. An active performer until 1998, Eschbach has several CDs to his credit, as well as an 800-page book detailing the original stoplists of the majority of organs constructed by Aristide Cavaill-Coll, based extensively on the Laprest collection.
Diagnosed in 1994 with focal dystonia in the right hand, he was forced to suspend his public performances in 1998. In 2003, the Cleveland Clinic announced an experimental therapy for dystonia and recommended that Eschbach be evaluated. Following six weeks in a cast and many months of retraining hand muscles and technique under the supervision of Dr. Kee Fedak, much of his facility returned, and he gradually is returning to performing.
Eschbach will begin playing at 9:15 a.m., with the "Moderato and Andante Sostenuto" from Symphonie Gothique, Op. 70, by Charles-Marie Widor. Later in the worship service, he'll play the "Allegro" from Trio Sonata I in E-flat Major, BWV 525, by J.S. Bach. To conclude the service, he will play the "Finale" from Symphonie Gothique, by Widor.
The public is invited to attend. The church is at 179 S. Indiana St., Warsaw. For more information, call 574-267-6933.
Pro-Life Music Fest July 1, 2
BY DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer
Based on camping registrations, early interest and headlining act Jeremy Camp, Pro-Life Music Festival founder/organizer Martt Clupper is predicting the two-day event could be the biggest yet.
The Christian music event is 5 to 11 p.m. July 1, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2 at the City County Athletic Complex, 3215 West Old Road 30, Warsaw. The first two hours July 2 are seminars on the Pro-Life movement and Christianity, with music beginning at 10 a.m.
Camp, Clupper said, is originally from Lafayette and has released three albums in the last three years, selling more than 1 million copies.
"He's the kind of guy who appeals to youth as well as adults," said Clupper.
Other bands slated to perform during the two-day festival include Friday night's headlining act Seventh Day Slumber, BarlowGirl, Mute Math, Stellar Kart, The Elms, Inhabited, Poor Man's Riches, RedCloud, Sides of the North, The Roosevelts, Adelaide and Falling Into Place.
BarlowGirl is an all-girl group of sisters, Clupper said, who take a really strong stance on sexual purity. Until they find someone they think they will marry, Clupper said the girls aren't even dating.
"They've become one of the hottest bands because they're so outspoken," he said.
The Elms are from Seymour, Ind., and have been on the national Christian music scene for three to four years, he said. Their booking agent is Street Level Artist agency, Warsaw.
As for Mute Math, Clupper said, "I think they're going to be really, really big in the future."
Links to more information on all the bands as well as band times can be found on the Web site plmf.org
This year, Clupper said organizers are going back to having free admission for both days. However, there is a one-time $3 parking fee.
As of Thursday, 850 people registered for camping during the festival. The most the festival has had in years past is 500 campers. Camping is free, but campers must pre-register by calling 574-551-PLMF or register online at plmf.org There is a limit of 1,000 campers.
Clupper said people are expected to attend from Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and states farther away including West Virginia and Florida. More church youth groups also are expected to be there. "I think that's a good thing," he said.
Also on hand at the Fourth of July weekend event will be food vendors, a merchandise tent, speakers, and skateboarding demonstrations. There will be a large video projection on the stage.
"It's going to be live video feed of the bands day and evening," Clupper said.
Hands in Motion will sign the music for most bands for the hearing impaired.
Rain or shine, Clupper said he hopes everyone will come out to support the event.
Grace College and the Kosciusko County Right to Life are sponsors again this year. Other sponsors include local businesses, organizations and churches.
On the Net:
www.plmf.org
www.jeremycamp.com
