Virtuoso Justin Bischof set to solo Nov. 14 at inaugural concert

[KB7DQH]

http://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/Virtuoso-Justin-Bischof-set-to-solo-Nov-14-at-809979.php

SUNDAY'S PROGRAM

First prize winner of the 2000 American Guild of Organists National Improvisation Competition in Seattle, the Canadian-Swiss Bischof is considered among the finest improvisers on the current music scene. As a conductor, he has worked with the National Arts Center Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Vancouver Symphony, State Philharmonic Kavkazskiye of Russia and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra of New York City, for which he is artistic director.

Now based in New York, Bischof made his opera conducting debut in Perth, Australia, in the premier of "The Crucible" by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Ward. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music, where he subsequently served as a professor of theory and keyboard skills from 1999-2006.

On the program are Trumpet Tune in D by Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707); Suite "Gothique", Opus 25 by Leon Boellmann (1862-1897); Trio Sonata No. 3 in D by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750); Bach's Fugue in G "Gigue"; and Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze."

Bischof, who served as a consultant during the church's organ project, also will perform two works of his own: Improvisation on "B.U.R.R." -- in honor of the late philanthropists -- and Symphony on "F.I.R.S.T. C.H.U.R.C.H."

INAUGURAL CONCERT SEASON

Other concerts in the 2010-11 season are:

Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m., Carol Sing prior to the Christmas Tree lighting at Fairfield's Independence Hall green.

Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m., the presentation of a silent movie (to be announced) with accompaniment by noted area entertainer David Harris;

March 13 at 3 p.m., the Fairfield County Chorale performs Durufle's Requiem;

June 5 at 8 p.m., Greater Bridgeport chapter of the American Guild of Organists concert, featuring Dr. John Michniewicz, Galen Tate, Jeffrey Wood, Stephen Roberts, Michael Lantowski and Dr. Joe Utterback.

All concerts are open to the public. Additional information is available by calling the church at 203-259-8396 or visiting www.firstchurchfairfield.org.

And another news article related to the instrument in question...

http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2010/10/20/fairfield/news/doc4cbf45383e215635998624.txt

Eric
KB7DQH

[KB7DQH]

And yet another... Nice picture of the facade and console here...

http://www.thedailyfairfield.com/neighbors/church-celebrates-organs-debut

Eric
KB7DQH

[KB7DQH]

For a concert at First Church, Fairfield, Conneticut.

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Organ-piano-duo-open-concert-season-at-2262206.php

For nearly 20 years -- since their student days at the Manhattan School of Music -- organist Justin Bischof and pianist Heather Amlin Hamilton have shared a great friendship and many great experiences. Even November birthday celebrations.

But one thing they've never shared is a stage.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, that oversight will be addressed when the duo-- both will be 44 this month -- opens the 2011-12 concert season at First Church Congregational in Fairfield. Tickets are $25.

At the 4 p.m. concert, Bischof will be featured on the FCC's Johannes Klais tracker pipe organ, from Bonn, Germany, which the church installed last year, culminating a 10-year project. On Nov. 14, 2010, Bischof was featured at the inaugural concert; the 14-ton instrument has 2,103 pipes, three-manual keyboards, 36 stops and 41 ranks (sets of pipes).

Hamilton will be featured on a Steinway piano. They will perform solos as well as piano/organ duets. Opening the concert will be the first movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, arranged for organ and piano; closing the event will be Mussorgsky's rousing "Great Gate of Kiev," from "Pictures at an Exhibition," also arranged for organ and piano. In solo turns, Hamilton will play such composers as Chopin, Mozart and Liszt; Bischof will be featured on Purcell, Liszt and on one of his own compositions.

"We've been best friends since 1992, when we were both working on graduate degrees at the Manhattan School of Music. We were even study buddies back then," said Hamilton, laughing.

"I'm not sure why we've never performed together," she added. "You take the paths available" and their professional paths never seemed to cross -- until now.

In 2010, Bischof was a featured recitalist in the 50th Anniversary Organ Recital Season at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. First-prize winner of the 2000 American Guild of Organists National Improvisation Competition in Seattle, the Canadian-Swiss Bischof is considered among the finest improvisers on the music scene. As a conductor, he has worked with the National Arts Center Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Vancouver Symphony, State Philharmonic Kavkazskiye, of Russia, and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra of New York City.

A resident of New York, Bischof made his opera conducting debut in Perth, Australia, in the premier of "The Crucible," by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Ward. He studied at the Manhattan School of Music, where he subsequently received his doctorate in organ performance and was on the faculty there from 1999-2007.

Fairfielder Hamilton has performed as a pianist, organist and conductor here and abroad. She has served as music director and organist at First Church from 1996 to 2004; she is music director/organist at Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport. Hamilton received a master of music in solo piano performance from Manhattan School of Music, where she also went on to receive a second master's degree as the first pianist in the orchestral performance program, studying under Harriet Wingreen, pianist with the New York Philharmonic. She was a conducting student at Tanglewood Music Center, working under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa and Gustav Meier (the conductor and music director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony), making her conducting debut in Varna, Bulgaria.

"It's going to be magical," said Hamilton of the Fairfield concert. (Bischof was unavailable last week, in seclusion studying for an upcoming concert, Hamilton said.)

"I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this" concert -- to perform with her friend and to perform in recital for area friends and family on the instrument she loves.

"It's like having your own orchestra at your fingertips," she says of the piano. The joy comes from "making it sing, to be the one person responsible for conveying the composer's message to the audience."

SEASON AT A GLANCE

Also on the 2011-12 season are the following:

Friday, Dec. 2, Christmas Carol Sing, immediately following the Fairfield tree lighting ceremonies, free;

Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., "Broadway Sings the Blues," featuring jazz pianist Dr. Joe Utterback and vocalists Carol and Tom Woodman;

Sunday, April 29, 4 p.m., solo organ recital featuring Andrea Boudra Kotylo.

IF YOU GO

First Church Congregational is at 148 Beach Road, Fairfield. The Sunday, Nov. 13, concert takes place at 4 p.m. Tickets, which will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, are $25. Call 203-259-8396 or visit www.firstchurchfairfield.org.

Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Organ-piano-duo-open-concert-season-at-2262206.php#ixzz1dQvxSTV8

Eric
KB7DQH