Pipes Alive! Popular Organ Recital Series begins November 1

On Sunday, November 1, 2020, at 12:30 p.m., Music at the Red Door will present a solo recital by organist Zachary Schurman. The concert is the first in this season’s Pipes Alive! series of organ recitals given by regional artists performing on the celebrated Austin pipe organ at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford. The free concert will be livestreamed only via St. John’s YouTube channel and on the St. John’s Facebook page.

Zachary B. Schurman is the Assistant Chapel Organist at Trinity College, in Hartford, where he studies with critically-acclaimed concert organist Christopher Houlihan. As Assistant Chapel Organist, Zachary regularly accompanies The Trinity College Chapel Singers for Evensong services, Sunday services, and concerts, in addition to performing organ literature throughout the academic year.

During the entire 2020-2021 season, Music at the Red Door will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the installation of the renowned pipe organ at St. John’s, built by Hartford-based Austin Organs.

“The marvelous pipe organ at St John’s, which was built by Hartford-based Austin Organs, serves not only the church and its congregation, but the whole community,” said Scott Lamlein, Artistic Director of Music at the Red Door and Director of Music and Organist for St. John’s. “Through this celebratory season, we invite everyone to experience the amazing sonic experience of a pipe organ in live performance.”

The organ, known as Austin’s Opus 2761, resounds with 51 stops, 64 ranks, and 3,721 pipes. Since its installation in 1995, this renowned instrument has been featured often in concerts and recitals, providing opportunities to share with the greater community the beauty and triumph of organ music.

“The pipe organ at St John’s is remarkably versatile in its range of color and sonic power,” said Lamlein. “Our year-long celebration of this instrument will include solo recitals by several fine organists. We’ve expanded the popular Pipes Alive! recital series to seven concerts this season, and we are especially thrilled that David Hurd, one of the most highly-respected of American organists, will offer a full-length solo recital on March 6.”

Inaugurated in 2015, the Pipes Alive! organ recitals are given on the first Sunday of selected months, drawing enthusiastic audiences to hear the region’s finest organists play on one of the most versatile pipe organs in the area.

Performers on the 2020-2021 series include Zachary Schurman (November 1), Scott Lamlein (December 6 and February 7), Kari Miller (January 3), Carolyn Craig (March 7), Edward Clark (May 2), and Sean McCarthy (June 6).

Schurman had been scheduled to perform on the Pipes Alive! series last April, but that event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was a terrible disappointment to have to cancel Zac’s recital, and we are delighted that he is able to return to St. John’s to present the first recital in this season’s Pipes Alive! series,” said Lamlein. “We’re hoping that with through the livestream, we can share his talent with an even wider audience.”

Each year, Music at the Red Door presents a wide array of musical and cultural events, including celebrity organ recitals and the Pipes Alive! organ series; choral and chamber music concerts; guest choirs and ensembles; and special events such as the annual Lessons and Carols service and in most years a major choral concert, Choral Music for the Soul.

After the coronavirus pandemic closed down concert venues in March, Music at the Red Door launched a new online music series, with more than a dozen weekly “pop-up” recitals featuring local and regional musicians. The recitals attracted a wide viewership and raised much-needed donations for local agencies serving the homeless and hungry, who have been especially affected by the pandemic. The full 2020-2021 season will continue online.

Each of the sixteen concerts in the upcoming season will be livestreamed; as soon as it is safe to do so, the series will also welcome in-person listeners back to the spacious, acoustically vibrant sanctuary at St. John’s

“Since we are not able to welcome music-lovers to the beautiful St. John’s building for live concerts during this time of social isolation, we invite everyone to join us online,” said Lamlein. “We are hopeful that later in the season, we will be able to invite a live audience back to St. John’s, with all precautions are in place for a safe experience. In any case, we will livestream all events for the entire season.”

Admission is free to all events presented by Music at the Red Door; free-will donations in any amount are accepted at the door.

EVENT INFORMATION

What: Pipe organ recital by organist Zachary Schurman, Assistant Chapel Organist at Trinity College, Hartford. Music of Elgar, Bach, and Franck.

When: Sunday, November 1, 2020, 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where and How: LIVESTREAM ONLY from St John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford, CT. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, this is a livestream event only. Do not come to the church; listen online.

The concert will be offered via livestream on the church’s Youtube channel here:

Admission: Free-will donation. No tickets required. Give what you can online at https://reddoormusic.org/donate.

More Info: https://www.reddoormusic.org/e... or concerts@reddoormusic.org

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