Brass, Bells & Pipes -- a spectacular event featuring music for pipe organ, brass instruments, handbells, and chorus -- will be the inaugural concert for the newly-renovated pipe organ at St. Peter's. The concert will take place at St. Peter's on Sunday, April 6, at 4:00 pm.
Admission to the concert is free (donations will be accepted in support of Concerts at St. Peter's).
The performing artists for Brass, Bells & Pipes include organist Emily Koons at the St. Peter's pipe organ, the St. Peter's Handbell Choir, trumpeter Don Witman, and a special guest brass quintet. In addition, the St. Peter's Adult Choir will participate in two works on the program that will showcase the collaboration between pipe organ, brass, and chorus.
A highlight of the concert will be the presentation of John Rutter's Gloria, a stellar work for a choir of mixed voices, with brass instruments, organ, and percussion. Another work, Psalm 96 by Michael Bedford, written for choir, organ and trumpet in C, will feature Emily Koons at the pipe organ, Don Witman on trumpet, and the Adult Choir.
The guest brass quintet will be featured in two works by Gabrieli. Also planned for the program is Holy God, We Praise Your Name, a festive hymn setting for brass quartet, timpani, and organ.
Don Witman and Emily Koons will perform Prayer of St. Gregory by Alan Hovhaness, a work for solo trumpet and organ. The Handbell Choir will also be featured in handbell pieces, with a Brahms theme, on the concert program.
For the inaugural concert performance of the St. Peter's pipe organ as a solo instrument, three pieces have been selected for their capability to demonstrate ably all four divisions (Great, Choir, Swell and Pedal) of the organ. Emily will perform the First Movement from Trio Sonata No. 1, by J.S. Bach; Adagio for Strings, by Samuel Barber; and the First Movement from Sonata No. 5 for Organ by Alexandre Guilmant.
Emily Koons has been the Organist, and Youth and Children's Choirs Director at St. Peter's since May 2005, when she and her family moved to the Washington, DC area from Williamsburg. She currently is a part-time resource teacher of music and reading at an Alexandria public school.
Emily received her Bachelor's degree in keyboard performance from the University of Tennessee; a Master of Arts in Music History from the University of Virginia; and elementary education and music teacher certification from Immaculata College. Emily is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists, and is an active member of the Potomac and Northern Virginia Chapters. She is also an active member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, DC Metro and Maryland Chapters.
Don Witman has been Music Director at St. Peter's since 1988. He was Director of Instrumental Music at Paul VI High School in Fairfax for 19 years, and he now teaches music for Fairfax County Public Schools. Don received his Bachelor of Music degree from Elizabethtown College, and his Master of Music degree from the Catholic University of America. He plays principal trumpet with the Fairfax Wind Symphony.
Join us at a post-concert reception, coordinated by the Fellowship Commission. For the convenience of concert-goers with young children, child care will be available during the concert.
March 3, 2008 More News . . .