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TRYON—Tryon Presbyterian Church will host a memorial concert for Scott Foppiano on Sunday, January 19, at 4 p.m. Foppiano, music director and organist for the church at 430 Harmon Field Road, died unexpectedly in his home on December 19.

“Scott came to Tryon Presbyterian this summer with great enthusiasm and joy in his call,” said Rev. Allan Purtill. “He quickly made an impact in the performance of our choir as they led us beautifully in prayerful worship each Sunday, helping us sing God’s praise. The organ, of course, was his forte, and he used his talents to open the doors of the church to our community through concerts, most notably organizing the benefit concert for hurricane relief.”

Foppiano teamed with Brennan Szafron, director of music at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon, to present that program, which was held on November 24 and generated nearly $6,000 in donations. The funds were given to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry to support its work helping Polk County victims of Hurricane Helene.

Now, Szafron is organizing another concert, this time in Foppiano’s memory. He has invited the participation of musicians from the region and across the country who worked with Foppiano, and he will form a choir of local singers who’d like to join the program. Rehearsal will be at 2:30 p.m. the afternoon of the concert at Tryon Presbyterian.

In addition to church work, Foppiano was a noted theater organist. Last October, he presented organ accompaniment for a showing of the 1925 silent film, “The Phantom of the Opera,” at Tryon Presbyterian.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of Scott Foppiano’s passing,” the New York Theatre Organ Society said in a statement. “His exceptional talents and profound knowledge of the theater organ will be deeply missed, as will his warm and kind personality. The theater organ community will truly mourn his loss.”

Foppiano’s funeral is in Charlotte, but Szafron said he “felt it was important to do something for the Tryon community … so people here can come. I think it will fill the church the same way the benefit concert filled the church.”

The concert is free and will be followed by a reception.