A world renowned South African organist is set to take the stage at St. John's Church as part of a fund-raising campaign.

Marinda Snyman, who holds both a Doctorate and a Master's degree in organ performance from the University of Pretoria and the University of Potchefstroom respectively, is thrilled about playing the organ at St. John's.

Since Monday, she has been working on the organ and has discovered some interesting sounds that mimic other instruments such as the clarinet, oboe and trumpet, which she will use during her recital on Saturday.

"There is dimension about the work and the performing, and sounds you can use in various ways," said Ms Snyman.

"It is a very fine instrument and you have to find your way around it. It is not like a flute recital and you have your instrument with you all the time.

"For every recital you have to work out the registrations, which means all the sounds you are going to use, because every organ is different for that. It is quite a complicated story in a way."

She added: "It is amazing to have such an instrument on the Island. The tuning is always the thing.

"The reeds on the organ get out of tune very quickly because of the humidity, so it is very important to have a stable temperature in a church."

She has performed at all the major arts festivals in South Africa.

As a student she won prizes in many South African competitions, including the ATKV Forte; was a finalist in the fourth Bloemfontein Organ Competition; a finalist in the SABC piano and organ competition, and a finalist in the JCI Jim Joel Competition.

She also attended the Oundle International Organ Festival in England and was the recital winner.

As part of this award, she was invited to give recitals in venues such as St. Paul's Cathedral, London, St. Albans, Chester and Peterborough Cathedrals in the UK.

And she has also received master classes from international performers such as Simon Preston, David Higgs, Naji Hakim, James Parsons, Karl Hochreiter and Ewald Kooiman, and was a guest student at the Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway.

She began studying the organ when she was an early teenager after seven years of piano tuition.

"When I was 13 years old I started playing the organ and I started playing the piano at the age of six," she said.

Asked if she thought she would become a world class organist when she first sat at the organ, she said: "No, I just liked it and just liked the sound of it."

Saturday's programme will include organ pieces such as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Albinoni's Adagio, Widor's Toccata and Albright's Concert Rag for Organ in a Scott Joplin style.

She has also made a special recording called 'Fanfare' of most of the pieces on a CD, which will be on sale at the concert.

The recital is part of a larger fund-raiser organised by the Anglican Parish of Pembroke. The proceeds will go towards the Youth Fund and Faith Venture 2009.

Tickets are $30, $20 for students, and children 12 and under are free. These are available either at the door or by ringing 524-9615 if tickets are wanted before the date. Doors open at 7.30 p.m.