This annual festival, featuring the future of the arts in the performances of talented young people, is always so much fun, and this year it's back in-person again! This year, as in the past, I'll be providing organ performances and fun facts about the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant pipe organ. Admission is free! Visit https://www.kauffmancenter.org/open-doors/future-stages-festival-2022/ for details, and come join us!

[from the Kauffman Center website:] The ninth annual Future Stages Festival will be presented June 12, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Future Stages Festival is a FREE community event that showcases hundreds of young performers on the Kauffman Center stages and invites attendees to enjoy a wide range of diverse performance styles and engaging arts activities.

Tickets are not required, but registrants will receive updated details regarding performance and activity schedules in the weeks leading up to the event as well as sneak peeks and announcements.

[from the KC Symphony website]

Gemma New, guest conductor

Benjamin Beilman, violin

Jan Kraybill, organ

Maurice Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chris Rogerson Violin Concerto (world premiere, Kansas City Symphony commission)

Camille Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 "Organ"

Guest conductor Gemma New is taking the symphonic world by storm with her dynamic and insightful leadership. The New Zealand-born conductor will bring to life the Mother Goose fairy tales so colorfully set to music by Maurice Ravel.

Chris Rogerson is no stranger to Kansas City Symphony audiences and his inspired music is always a delight to hear. We’ll be the first to hear his new violin concerto, premiered by violin phenom Benjamin Beilman. The New York Times notes, “Mr. Beilman’s handsome technique, burnished sound and quiet confidence…showed why he has come so far so fast.”

Better known as the “Organ Symphony,” Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 makes good use of its namesake instrument thundering away in the exuberantly grand final movement. Kansas City’s own organist extraordinaire Jan Kraybill will join the orchestra for this exhilarating, bold music that awakens the spirit.

[from the KC Symphony website]

Gemma New, guest conductor

Benjamin Beilman, violin

Jan Kraybill, organ

Maurice Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chris Rogerson Violin Concerto (world premiere, Kansas City Symphony commission)

Camille Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 "Organ"

Guest conductor Gemma New is taking the symphonic world by storm with her dynamic and insightful leadership. The New Zealand-born conductor will bring to life the Mother Goose fairy tales so colorfully set to music by Maurice Ravel.

Chris Rogerson is no stranger to Kansas City Symphony audiences and his inspired music is always a delight to hear. We’ll be the first to hear his new violin concerto, premiered by violin phenom Benjamin Beilman. The New York Times notes, “Mr. Beilman’s handsome technique, burnished sound and quiet confidence…showed why he has come so far so fast.”

Better known as the “Organ Symphony,” Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 makes good use of its namesake instrument thundering away in the exuberantly grand final movement. Kansas City’s own organist extraordinaire Jan Kraybill will join the orchestra for this exhilarating, bold music that awakens the spirit.

[from the KC Symphony website]

Gemma New, guest conductor

Benjamin Beilman, violin

Jan Kraybill, organ

Maurice Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chris Rogerson Violin Concerto (world premiere, Kansas City Symphony commission)

Camille Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 "Organ"

Guest conductor Gemma New is taking the symphonic world by storm with her dynamic and insightful leadership. The New Zealand-born conductor will bring to life the Mother Goose fairy tales so colorfully set to music by Maurice Ravel.

Chris Rogerson is no stranger to Kansas City Symphony audiences and his inspired music is always a delight to hear. We’ll be the first to hear his new violin concerto, premiered by violin phenom Benjamin Beilman. The New York Times notes, “Mr. Beilman’s handsome technique, burnished sound and quiet confidence…showed why he has come so far so fast.”

Better known as the “Organ Symphony,” Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 makes good use of its namesake instrument thundering away in the exuberantly grand final movement. Kansas City’s own organist extraordinaire Jan Kraybill will join the orchestra for this exhilarating, bold music that awakens the spirit.

I'll work with talented area organists as we learn together in a masterclass setting. You may observe or participate as a player. Visit https://foxvalleyago.org/chapter-events/ and scroll down to the bottom of the page for details. This event is free and open to the public. I hope you'll join me to discuss the exciting world of organ playing for church and concert!

Rescheduled from my COVID-defined 2020-21 season! I'm pleased to perform a recital sponsored by the Fox Valley chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Visit https://foxvalleyago.org/chapter-events/ to learn about their 2021-2022 program year, and scroll down to the bottom of the page to view details about this season finale. Admission to the concert is free!

As the world is slowly recovering from the effects of the global pandemic, a lesson to take forward is that to freely take a breath, and then to speak or to break into song, is something to treasure. This program celebrates the many diverse voices of St. Michael's unique organ and the glorious diversity of the human community.

Planned repertoire:

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844-1937): Intermezzo from Symphony No. 6 for Organ

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

LEO SOWERBY (1895-1968): Carillon

CHARLES FRANÇOIS GOUNOD (1818-1893): Marche funèbre d'une marionette (Funeral March of a Marionette)

JEHAN ALAIN (1911-1940): Postlude pour l'office de Complies (Postlude for Compline)

ALAIN: Litanies

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902-1986): Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'ALAIN (Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN)

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

MARY BETH BENNETT (b. 1954): Hommage à Langlais: Song of Peace in a Time of War

JOSEPH BONNET (1884-1944): Variations de Concert (Concert Variations)

I'm pleased to play a concert on the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh. Visit https://organseries.com/index.shtm to view information about tickets, the series, and directions, and join me on May 15!

As the world is slowly recovering from the effects of the global pandemic, a lesson to take forward is that to freely take a breath, and then to speak or to break into song, is something to treasure. This program celebrates the many diverse voices in organ music and the glorious diversity of the human community.

This concert will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Search for East Liberty Presbyterian on either service just prior to the concert start time, 3PM ET.

Planned repertoire:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

LEO SOWERBY (1895-1968): Carillon

CHARLES FRANÇOIS GOUNOD (1818-1893): Marche funèbre d'une marionette (Funeral March of a Marionette)

GEOFFREY WILCKEN (b. 1972): The Love Amazing, Op. 74, No. 1

JEHAN ALAIN (1911-1940): Postlude pour l'office de Complies (Postlude for Compline)

ALAIN: Litanies

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902-1986): Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'ALAIN (Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN)

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

MARY BETH BENNETT (b. 1954): Hommage à Langlais: Song of Peace in a Time of War

RALPH SIMPSON (b. 1933): King of Kings

JOSEPH BONNET (1884-1944): Variations de Concert (Concert Variations)

The broadcast of the recorded performances for the 2021 East Texas Pipe Organ Festival, delayed for various reasons, will finally be available! My concert was recorded at Community of Christ Auditorium's Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, Opus 1309, and honors two performers heard during its first year of existence. You'll hear works from Catharine Crozier's inaugural performance at the instrument, and works from the second guest organist concert to be heard here, played by William Teague, who was organist at Opus 1308 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Many other Festival events took place in person for a select, COVID-defined audience. Lorenz Maycher, the Festival's founder and director, says, "Our 2021 East Texas Pipe Organ Festival took place in New Orleans and Laurel, Mississippi last November. We recorded these events and will make them available online for the first time the week of May 8, 2022, as our official 'East Texas Pipe Organ Festival in Exile' with Michael Barone acting as our master of ceremonies."

You may access my program at https://vimeo.com/708850724. While there, click on the links to check out all of the other performances, and consider donating any amount to help the ETPOF continue! All of the recordings will be available until May 22, 2022.

Visit http://www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com/ for further details about future plans for the Festival.

Let's honor Mothers' Day together with music celebrating love! You’ll hear compositions from Bach to the Beatles, inspired by and written on themes of love of friends, family, neighbors, country, and peace, and reminding us that connections to each other are gifts to treasure.

This event is sponsored by the Wilmington chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/349589860400302?ref=newsfeed for details. Admission is free! I hope to see you on May 8.

Planned repertoire:

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Toccata on All You Need Is Love (based on the song by Paul McCartney and John Lennon)

CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD (1852-1924): Intermezzo on an Irish Air ("Danny Boy"), Op. 189, No. 4

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

LOUIS VIERNE (1870-1937): Berceuse (Lullaby)

LEO SOWERBY (1895-1968): Carillon

GEOFFREY WILCKEN (b. 1972): The Love Amazing, Op. 74, No. 1

BENJAMIN CORNELIUS-BATES (b. 1978): Meditation, from Fantasia on "I Wonder..."

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Prelude, Aria, and Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

MARY BETH BENNETT (b. 1954): Hommage à Langlais: Song of Peace in a Time of War

LOUIS VIERNE (1870-1937): Carillon de Westminster

Rescheduled from my COVID-defined 2020-21 season! I'm so pleased to be able to play this glorious Casavant organ.

As the world is slowly recovering from the effects of the global pandemic, one lesson to take forward is that to freely take a breath, and then to speak or to break into song, is truly something to treasure. This program, titled "Joining Voices," celebrates the many diverse voices of this glorious Casavant organ and the beautiful diversity of the human community.

Planned repertoire includes:

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844-1937): Intermezzo from Symphony No. 6 for Organ

LOUIS VIERNE (1870-1937): Berceuse (Lullaby)

CHARLES FRANÇOIS GOUNOD (1818-1893): Marche funébre d'une marionette (Funeral March of a Marionette)

JEHAN ALAIN (1911-1940): Variations sur un Thème de Clément Jannequin (Variations on a theme by Clément Jannequin)

ALAIN: Postlude pour l'office de Complies (Postlude for Compline)

ALAIN: Litanies

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902-1986): Prélude et Fugue sue le nom d'ALAIN (Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN)

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

MARY BETH BENNETT (b. 1954): Hommage à Langlais: Song of Peace in a Time of War

JOSEPH BONNET (1884-1944): Variations de Concert (Concert Variations), Op. 1

Visit this website for details regarding the Con Spirito concert series: http://conspirito.kirkwoodpres.org/events/jan-kraybill-organist/. Free admission! I hope to see you there!

I'll join talented Kansas City area musicians in presenting a glorious afternoon of continuous music celebrating the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach in our 43rd annual BACHATHON!

My half-hour segment will begin at 4:30pm and will include:

Sinfonia from Bach's Cantata No. 29, Wir danken dir, Gott (transcribed by Guilmant)

Chorale prelude on Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kamm (Christ, Our Lord, Came to the Jordan), BWV 684

and

Bach's amazing and triumphant Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582.

Visit https://www.kcago.com/bachathon to learn about others' segments, and join me in the audience for the entire afternoon starting at 2pm, or come and go as you like. Free admission (donations gratefully accepted, in person or online).

This event will be live-streamed. Visit the same website, above, for the link.

The motto of Bachathon: "Come when you can, leave when you must!"

I'll work with talented area organists as we learn together in a masterclass setting. Anyone is invited to observe, or take part by playing and discussing various techniques. This event is free and open to the public.

Rescheduled from my COVID-defined 2020-21 season, I'm pleased to finally be able to perform this recital, sponsored by the South Dakota chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Visit http://www.sdago.org/events.html for more information about their program year, and plan to join me on April 22-23!

As the pandemic has taught us, to take a breath is something to cherish. I've designed a program intended to give you a breath of in-spiration, beginning with the genius of Bach.

Planned repertoire:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Sinfonia from Cantata 29, Wir danken dir, Gott (We Thank Thee, God)

J.S. BACH: Passacaglia, BWV 582

J.S. BACH: Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kamm (Christ, Our Lord, Came to the Jordan), BWV 684

J.S. BACH: Diess sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 678

J.S. BACH: Diess sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 679

J.S. BACH: Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902-1986): Prélude et Fugue sure le nom d'ALAIN

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

HEALEY WILLAN (1880-1968): Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue

I get to make music with the talented young musicians in two of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City's orchestras in this exciting event. With the Academy Orchestra, I'll perform the beautiful Adagio for Strings and Organ by Tomaso Albinoni (arr. Giazotto), heard in many film and TV scores. Later the same evening, I'll contribute the organ's sound to the glorious final movement as the Symphony Orchestra plays the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar. Come hear and be wowed by these fabulous young musicians in our city!

[from the Spire website]

Collaboration with the Kansas City Youth Chorus

Explore a broad range of repertoire for organ and choir Featuring GRAMMY nominee and longtime Spire collaborator Jan Kraybill on organ. Cantos Sagrados by Sir James MacMillan is the central work, which sets poems by Ariel Dorfman and Ana Maria Mendosa about political repression in Latin America combined with traditional religious texts in Latin. Additional selections include music by Rosephanye Powell, Jonathan Dove, Florence Price, Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten, R. Nathaniel Dett, Johannes Brahms, and a new world premiere by Ben A. Spalding. We welcome the Kansas City Youth Chorus (Sunday performance only) as our special guests for this thrilling program which is sure to uplift you long after the final note is played.

Sunday tickets available at the door: $25 general admission / $10 students

[from the Spire website]

Collaboration with the Kansas City Youth Chorus

Explore a broad range of repertoire for organ and choir Featuring GRAMMY nominee and longtime Spire collaborator Jan Kraybill on organ. Cantos Sagrados by Sir James MacMillan is the central work, which sets poems by Ariel Dorfman and Ana Maria Mendosa about political repression in Latin America combined with traditional religious texts in Latin. Additional selections include music by Rosephanye Powell, Jonathan Dove, Florence Price, Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten, R. Nathaniel Dett, Johannes Brahms, and a new world premiere by Ben A. Spalding. We welcome the Kansas City Youth Chorus (Sunday performance only) as our special guests for this thrilling program which is sure to uplift you long after the final note is played.

FREE ADMISSION to the Saturday performance

Sunday tickets available at the door: $25 general admission / $10 students

For the opening event of Tabor College's annual Bach Festival, I've designed a concert that celebrates the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach and his influence on all of we musicians. The first half showcases Bach in his various music-making roles: composer, church musician, conductor, civic musician, court musician, teacher, and father of musicians. After intermission, we'll see Bach's influence on three composers in three decades since Bach's lifetime.

Planned repertoire:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, Wir danken dir, Gott (We Thank Thee, God)

J.S. BACH: Passacaglia, BWV 582

J.S. BACH: Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kamm (Christ, Our Lord, Came to the Jordan), BWV 684

J.S. BACH: Diess sind die heil'gen zen Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 678

J.S. BACH: Diess sind die heil'gen zen Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 679

J.S. BACH: Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902-1986): Prelude and Fugue on the name ALAIN

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

JOSEPH BONNET (1884-1944): Variations de Concert

I'm pleased to play on the inaugural year of St. Luke's new organ, built by Reuter Organ Company. I've designed a program full of music that celebrates!

Planned repertoire includes:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Sinfonia from Cantata 29, Wir danken dir, Gott (We Thank Thee, God)

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR (1844–1937): Intermezzo from Symphony No. 6 for Organ

LOUIS VIERNE (1870–1937): Berceuse (Lullaby)

CHARLES FRANÇOIS GOUNOD (1818–1893): Marche funèbre d’une marionette (Funeral March of a Marionette)

JEHAN ALAIN (1911–1940): Postlude pour l’office de Complies (Postlude for Compline)

JEHAN ALAIN: Litanies

MAURICE DURUFLÉ (1902–1986): Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’ALAIN (Prelude and Fugue on the Name ALAIN)

PAUL AYRES (b. 1970): Intermezzo from Suite for Eric

MARY BETH BENNETT (b. 1954): Hommage à Langlais: Song of Peace in a Time of War

JOSEPH BONNET (1884–1944): Variations de Concert (Concert Variations)

For details on the venue, visit the church's website at https://www.slecsa.org/. Come celebrate this new instrument with me!

I'll play a concert on the pipe organ recently refurbished by Quimby Pipe Organs in this lovely church.

The program will explore the music of J.S. Bach and composers he has inspired across generations and geography. Planned repertoire includes:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29: Wir danken dir, Gott (We Thank Thee, God)

J.S. BACH: Five Chorale Preludes from ClavierÜbung III:

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (All Glory Be to God on High), BWV 676

Diess sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 678

Diess sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot (These Are the Holy Ten Commandments), BWV 679

Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kamm (Christ, Our Lord, Came to the Jordan), BWV 684

Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (From Deep Distress I Cry to Thee), BWV 676

J.S. BACH: Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856): Fugue No. 1 from Six Fugues on the Name BACH, Op. 60

Four Hymns:

On This Day, Earth Shall Ring (PERSONET HODIE), arr. Robert A. Hobby (b. 1962)

Many and Great (LACQUIPARLE), arr. Robert Buckley Farlee (b. 1950)

Swing Five (ERHALT UNS, HERR), arr. Johannes Matthias Michel (b. 1962)

King of Kings (traditional spiritual), arr. Ralph Simpson (b. 1933)

NOEL RAWSTHORNE (1929–2019): Dancing Feet

J.S. BACH: Fugue in G Major, “à la Gigue,” BWV 577

From the KC Symphony website:

Luke Skywalker heads a mission to rescue Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt and faces Darth Vader one last time. Experience “Return of the Jedi” in this remarkable concert event, featuring your Kansas City Symphony performing John Williams’ iconic score live as the complete film is shown on a giant screen in Helzberg Hall.

Presentation licensed by DISNEY CONCERTS in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © 2021 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

I'll be at the piano for this event.