One would be hard put to find someone in the musical world of the greater Akron area who doesn’t know or hasn’t heard of organist and voice teacher James Mismas. Most of that is because Jim (as he likes to be called) is very much a part of the musical fabric of the area and is gregarious and buoyant in personality.

A lot of it has to do with his presence in the musical field for 50 years now. Jim got his first professional organ-playing job at age 14 in a local church in Wooster, Ohio. He received music degrees from there and in Oberlin, Ohio along the way, and subsequently taught at Kent State University (including its Stark campus), Hiram College, and The University of Akron (in its opera and voice programs). During the same period, he worked continuously as a church musician, as well as having private voice studios over the years. At present he is a voice instructor at Baldwin-Wallace College in Cleveland, thereby expanding his reach in knowing people.

James Mismas, organist and music educator.

Several years ago – 16 as a matter of fact – Jim came up with the idea for a concert series. Calling it Five@Five, his idea was to hold five concerts a year, all at 5 p.m, with no intermissions, and a one-hour time limit no matter who was performing. The endurance of the concert series is in large measure due to another facet of the programming. As Jim stated it in a telephone interview, he wanted to give members of the community professional caliber performers – at no cost. To sustain the program, Jim has relied on private donations and goodwill offerings at the end of the performance. Audience attendance has been consistently high to overflowing over the years.

His sense of programming has worked. If not the first, Jim agreed that his Five@Five was early in presenting Apollo’s Fire, a Knight Arts grantee, as well as Akron Baroque orchestra, another Knight Arts grantee. He has scheduled in such groups as the glee clubs from Ohio State University and Bowling Green State University, and such notable solo performers as consummate pianist Philip Thomson.

For the upcoming concert on Sunday, April 12 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, the focus is going to be on Jim Mismas himself, in a program designed to highlight his 50 years in the business. Titled “Golden Jubilee Celebration,” the hour-long concert will feature elements of his career – with the help of some musical friends.

Jim said that fellow musician Valerie Thorson will do introductions, but that he will tell stories between musical numbers. For one, he will play first Charles-Marie Widor’s “Toccata” with the highly popular group, the Paragon Brass. This is a piece he played for his first high school recital.

Moving further along, he will play Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Fantasie and Fugue in G minor,” a work he used for a student recital at Oberlin College. He also will perform Samuel Barber’s “Adagio,” with choreography from professional dancer friend Suzanne Winland of Pointe West Dance.

A mass choir comprised of the Westminster Presbyterian Church choir members, along with the Madrigal Choir of Firestone High School and the Concert Choir of Revere High School will join Jim and the Paragon Brass for Sir Hubert Parry’s “I Was Glad.”

The concert will end with another choral work, Daniel Gawthrop’s “Sing Me to Heaven” – a very fitting and uplifting end for a concert.

A reception will follow the concert in the Fellowship Hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Aside from celebrating Jim Mismas’ career, it has all the makings of a wonderful concert with some stellar musicians from throughout the community collaborating to make it all work.

Five@Five’s “Golden Jubilee Celebration” in honor of James Mismas will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron; 330-836-2226; www.westministerakron.com. Admission is free.