Oscar Dressler might have been a long way from home, but he must have felt right at home during recent performances in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dressler, a native of Argentina and long a mainstay of TCC South’s Music Department, was invited to be the official pianist for a Sept. 4 celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, generally accepted to have begun when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg, Germany, on October 31, 1517.
One of the major organizers of the event was the International Baptist Theological Seminary where Dressler earned his bachelor’s degree, the Argentine equivalent of a master’s, and spent 10 years as a faculty member. Not only the city, but also the venue was familiar – El Teatro Colón, where he made his debut as a soloist.
“This is an opera house third in the world for its acoustics and among the top five in the world in prestige and reputation,” he wrote. “It is a replica of La Scalla in Milan, and it was wonderful to perform there again after 33 years.”
Dressler was the accompanist for the congregational singing of two traditional hymns. He also accompanied a 160-voice choir in its performance. In addition, he played a solo arrangement of traditional hymns.
“I am still overwhelmed and will remain forever grateful for this opportunity,” he wrote. “What a blessing from God it was!”