Dr. William Tortolano will give his 56th annual organ recital at the St. Michael’s College chapel in Colchester on Oct. 25 at 12:15 p.m.

“I want to keep active, and I like to serve the Church,” said the author of six books who has published more than 60 choral compositions and music for organ, brass and strings.

The college’s 2-manual, 17-rank, 14-stop Casavant pipe organ was designed and dedicated in 1966 to Tortolano, a 50-year faculty member at the college where he was founder of the Fine Arts Department and its first chairperson. The pipe organ is “like part of my family,” he said.

He enjoys continuing to play the organ. “Why should I stop? You have to keep your mind going,” said Tortolano, 92. “That’s important.”

At the concert Tortolano will play a diversity of styles and tonal colors that reflect the many aspects of the classic organ. Works include those of Froberger, Buxtehude, Bach, Kosakoff and Shearing.

To prepare for the annual recitals, he keeps practicing and learning new music. “I keep busy. It’s a lot of fun,” he said.

The concert is free and open to the public.