Paul Hesselink ’62

Paul Hesselink ’62 was honored on June 15
during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the
Southern Nevada Chapter of the American
Guild of Organists for his service as chair
of the chapter’s organ recital series since the
series’ inception in 2005. The citation read:
“With deep appreciation for your professional
contribution and committed service on bringing
stellar artists to our recital series over the past
thirteen years.” In those years, 60 recitals
were presented including 13 foreign artists, 30
American artists, six individual chapter-member
recitals, 12 annual Advent Christmas-member
recitals, and two Organ-Plus-members recitals.
Managing the series has included chairing the
committee selecting the invited guest artists,
the contracting of the artists and managing the
logistics of their visits, formatting and printing
of the recital programs, and developing and
maintaining an e-mail notification/reminder
list of some 350 contacts for the recitals. Dr.
Hesselink was a major force in the acquisition
of the Maurine Jackson Smith Organ in Doctor
Rando-Grillot Recital Hall at the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas, where most of the recitals
have been presented. Since 1993 he has been
an adjunct member of the School of Music
Faculty at UNLV providing organ instruction
to students. Most recently, he has worked to
establish an endowed fund through the UNLV
Foundation insuring perpetual maintenance of
the instrument.