HOISINGTON – Ohio organist Craig Jaynes will perform in a benefit concert for the Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Main and Fifth streets in Hoisington. 

The public is invited to attend. Admission is a free-will offering to benefit the foundation.

The title of the concert is “In Memoriam - a program of music on the organ. It includes “reminiscences and tales, drama, fun, seriousness and a bit of snark. In other words, many of the things that make up life,” said Debbie Rief of Kans for Kids.   

Jaynes lives in Jamestown, Ohio, and is the resident musician (organist and choir director) of St. Colman Church in Washington Court House, Ohio, where he directs a music program and an annual concert series. 

Originally from Hoisington, he has studied organ with Paul Lundquist (University of North Dakota) where he earned his bachelor of arts degree, Dorothy Addy and Diane Bish (Wichita, Kansas), and Virgil Fox (privately). He attended Wichita State University, Kent State University, The Ohio State University and Clark State (Ohio) Community College. 

His first gig was for the First Methodist Church in Hoisington and his first concert was at First Congregational Church in Great Bend. He will begin his 55th year as an active church musician on the weekend of the concert. 

He is a hospice and palliative care nurse in southwest Ohio and tends his 2 1/2 acre English-style garden outside of Jamestown.

“I am not among the top tier or even the second tier of organists, but I thoroughly enjoy the instrument and enjoy playing and especially for folks back here, where it all began,” Jaynes said.