Baylor School of Music Presents Dynamic Organ Conference

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Jan. 30, 2015) – Baylor University School of Music will present the 21st annual Midwinter Organ Conference, “The American Organist,” Sunday, Feb. 1, to Tuesday, Feb. 3, in various performance halls on campus.
“The title of the conference is a bit of a pun. ‘The American Organist’ is a famous magazine for organists. Everyone in the organ world knows the name of the magazine. The title was chosen because organ playing in America is so different from other countries. We’re called to be much more versatile here,” said Isabelle Demers, D.M.A, assistant professor of organ in Baylor’s School of Music.
This year’s conference will feature lectures, workshops, panel discussions, six concerts and an organ accompaniment to a silent film.
Opening the public performances will be Baylor graduate student Chohee Kim with a recital at 4 p.m. Sunday in Jones Concert Hall, in the Glennis McCrary Music Building. Joining her on the program will be trombonist Trey English and pianist Khanh Pham.
Demers will perform a faculty recital at 7 p.m. Sunday in Markham Organ Studio in the Glennis McCrary Music Building.
“I’m playing a little bit of everything. I’m playing mostly American music, but obviously there will be a little bit of Bach. Also, some Canadian pieces,” Demers said.
Demers also will present a recital at 9 a.m. Monday. This program will take place in two venues: Recital Hall II (adjacent to Waco Hall lobby) and Roxy Grove Hall. Demers will play three pieces in Recital Hall II then she and her audience will walk to Roxy Hall for the final five pieces.
“This will give listeners a chance to hear and contrast the sounds of both organs,” said Richard Veit, concert and promotion manager for Baylor’s School of Music.
At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, guest artist Daryl Robinson will perform in Paul W. Powell Chapel of George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Robinson is an organist and artist-in-residence for South Main Baptist Church in Houston.
Jason Roberts, associate director of music and organist at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York City, will provide accompaniment at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, for a showing of comedian Buster Keaton’s 1928 silent film, “Steamboat Bill, Jr.,” in Jones Concert Hall.
Scott Dettra, director of music and organist at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, will perform the conference’s closing recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Jones Concert Hall.
Presentations are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor University School of Music at 254-710-3991.
Glennis McCrary Music Building and Jones Concert Hall are located at 110 Bagby Ave. in Waco.
Waco Hall and Roxy Grove Hall are located at 624 Speight Ave. in Waco.
Paul W. Powell Chapel of Truett Theological Seminary is located at 1100 S. Third St. in Waco.
by Sarah Czerwinski, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.