American Guild of Organists March Concert Series with Lunch

St. David's Episcopal Church will host a concert series, sponsored by The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, during the month of March. The recital series, now being offered for its third year, will be held on consecutive Tuesdays at 12:00 noon from March 3 through March 31, 2020. Five artists will perform their selected works on the church’s Dobson pipe organ, Opus 84, one of the finest in the area, built by the builders of the Kimmel Center organ in 2007. The varied repertoire spans four centuries of compositions from France, Germany, England, Ireland, Canada and the United States.

Immediately following each concert, attendees are invited to stay for lunch in St. David's Hall, which is connected to the church, and to informally visit with the performer. The noon lunch recital series in open to the public. There is no charge for attendance, however a $5 donation is suggested to cover the cost of lunch (sandwiches, salad, chips and drinks). For complete biographies of performers and for updates on works to be performed, please visit https://stdavidschurch.org/event/american-guild-of-organists-ago-concert-series-lunch/2020-03-03/.

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Background Information on American Guild of Organists:

The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 14,700 members in approximately 300 chapters throughout the United States and abroad. Its mission is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.

Featured artists include:

Andrew Kotylo - March 3

Dr. Kotylo, a native of Binghamton, NY is currently Director of Music at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill. He holds degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and has performed and earned critical acclaim throughout the U.S. and in England. He has won numerous competitions including the American Guild of Organists' National Young Artists Competition and has been featured on American Public Media's broadcast Pipedreams

Jeff Fowler - March 10

Dr. Fowler, an Allentown native, has played organ for worship services since age 15. Following his service as a church musician in Philadelphia and Detroit metropolitan areas, he was Minister of Music at Wayne Presbyterian Church from 1992-2015 and is currently Organist/Choirmaster at Christ Church Ithan in Wayne. He is responsible for re-forming and directing the 275-member Wayne Oratorio Society which performs together with full orchestra accompaniment. He holds degrees from West Chester University and The University of Michigan.

Clair Rozier - March 17, performing with Ellivi Varga

A native of Washington D.C., Dr. Rozier has been Director of Music and an Organist at St. David's Episcopal Church since 1999. She holds degrees from Goucher College, Cincinnati Conservatory and Eastman School of Music and earned the Prix d'Excellence from France's National Conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison. Her recitals have spanned England, France and throughout the United States. Performing with Dr. Rozier will be Elivi Varga, a flute soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member throughout the Philadelphia area.

Elivi Varga performs as a flute soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member throughout the Philadelphia area. Recent appearances include performances at Longwood Gardens, Philadelphia Ethical Society, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and with the Reading Choral Society. She is a founding member of the Lyra Ensemble, a flute quartet that performs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Elaine Sonnenberg Whitelock - March 24th

Dr. Sonnenberg Whitelock is currently Associate Director of Music at St. David's Episcopal Church, instructs at Claritas Classical Academy and privately teaches piano and organ. She received both her doctorate and master's degree in Organ Performance from Indiana University and a double bachelor's degree from University of Akron in Organ Performance and Vocal Music Education.

Lyn Loewi - March 31

Originally from Cleveland, Lyn studied organ and conducting at University of Michigan, the Schumann Institute in Dusseldorf, Germany, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts at Stanford and won Grand and First Prizes in the National Conservatory in France. Her musical profession has taken her to churches in St. Louis, Austin, Portland OR and Denver as well as Lewis and Clark College and University of Minnesota.