GRANITE CITY - Internationally-renowned organist Carlo Curley will be performing a concert entitled A Spectacular Christmas at St. Elizabeth Parish in Granite City. His concert is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the church at 2300 Pontoon Road.

Curley, who is often referred to by his reviewers as the "Pavarotti of the organ," was born into a musical family in North Carolina in the early 1950s. He began studying music at age 4 and by age 6 was so determined to play the organ that he broke into a church to play there. These days the 55-year-old musician says his mission is to establish the organ at the forefront of musical instruments, "even if it takes the rest of my life."

Although his first training came from his gifted grandmother, Curley has since studied with Americans Virgil Fox, Robert Elmore and Arthur Poister as well as Britain's foremost organist, Sir George Thalben'Ball. He has recorded over two dozen recordings for Decca/London International and for RCA "Red Seal" and ProArte labels. Additionally Decca has released his premiere video effort, said to be the first ever commercially made video of classical organ performance, entitled Organ Imperial.

Curley has performed in many international venues including Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, France and London. His North American tours include most of the major venues in Canada and the United States, including New York's Carnegie Hall. Upon the invitation of the president, he was the first classical organist to give a concert at the White House.   

Although there is no charge for the concert, which is part of the 2007-2008 St. Elizabeth Concert Series, free will offerings will be accepted. For more information, call (618) 876-1708.