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Midwinter Organ Conference, 2-14-10 through 2-16-10

BAYLOR'S 2010 MIDWINTER ORGAN CONFERENCE

The 16th-annual Baylor University Midwinter Organ Conference will take place February 14-16, with concerts, lectures, and master classes featuring world renowned performers. Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Robert Jones and his wife, Baylor organist in residence Dr. Joyce Jones, have recently given contributions to establish a permanent endowment for the continuation of this annual event. "We are trying to provide something for everyone this year," commented Dr. Jones. "We discovered that 2010 was the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Spanish composer Antonio de Cabezón and the 300th anniversary of the birth of the English composer Thomas Arne. That led to inviting Dr. Linton Powell to give a program of Spanish organ music, as he is well-known as an authority." It also led to a lecture/recital on the 18th-century English organ concerto, to be given by Joyce Jones. People are coming from as far away as California to New York for this annual event. All events are free and open to the public.

The conference begins Sunday, February 14, at 4:00 PM, with "Music for the King of Instruments" in Jones Concert Hall, played by Baylor organ students. The A Cappella Choir, directed by Dr. Alan Raines, will sing a hymn festival, "Love Divine," in Powell Chapel at 6:30. "The A Cappella Choir sounds fantastic in Powell Chapel, and people are in for a wonderful experience. If you have never attended a hymn festival, this is one you should not miss," stated Christopher Johnson, graduate organ student and assistant to Dr. Jones.

The conference will include several world premieres, including a new anthem and a series of songs by Dr. Doug Claybrook. Baylor alumnus Colin Howland is bringing a choir from the church where he is director of music, Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, to present a program called "Christ Triumphant" in Powell Chapel at 2:30 on Monday afternoon. Then, on Monday evening, organist Chelsea Chen will play in Roxy Grove Hall at 7:30, joined by violinist Lewis Wong, in a program featuring original works based on melodies from Taiwan and Japan.

On Tuesday morning, Dr. Powell will play his program of Spanish organ music in Markham Organ Studio, with a song recital by Dr. Jack Coldiron in Recital Hall II at 3:00 and a 4:00 PM lecture/recital in Roxy Grove Hall on organ works by English composer Hubert Parry, played by Dr. Jason Farris, Baylor alumnus. The closing concert at 7:30 will be in Jones Concert Hall, featuring famed organist and recording artist Stephen Tharp, playing works by Franck, Alain, and Tharp's own transcriptions of Handel's Royal Fireworks Music and Stravinsky's Petrouchka.