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Welcome by Michael Velting, AGO OrganFest 2020 Chair
Lord of the Dance, John Burge (b. 1961)
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Aaron Tan

Winner, 2018 AGO National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance

Aaron Tan

Aaron Tan is a Canadian organist, engineer, and pianist. He has won numerous noteworthy contests and scholarships on both instruments including the First Prize and Audience Prize at the prestigious AGO National Young Artists (NYACOP) competition in 2018. Other competition prizes and awards include the Toronto RCCO Young Organists Competition, the Osborne Organ Competition of the Summer Institute of Church Music (Ontario), the RCCO’s National Organ Playing Competition, the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians, the Lilian Forsyth Scholarship, the West Chester University Organ Competition, the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition, the Sursa American Organ Competition, and the XVI Poland International Piano Festival Competition.  His primary musical tutelage has been with John Tuttle, David Palmer, and Joel Hastings.

Mr. Tan is currently studying at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University and also serves as Organ Scholar at Church of the Resurrection, New York City. Previously he has served as Organ Scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Detroit, Michigan, Artist in Residence at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit, and Assistant Organist at Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. As a scientist, Aaron holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Michigan and worked there as a postdoctoral researcher after earning his degree, studying polymer thin films.

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Performance Notes
  • Woolsey Hall, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
  • Skinner Organ Company (1928) (specifications)
Presentation by Elizabeth George, AGO Director of Member Engagement and Chapter Development
Allegro maestoso from Organ Sonata in G, Op. 28, Edward Elgar (1857‑1934)
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Alcée Chriss III

Winner, 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition

Alcée Chriss III

Winner of the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition and Firmin Swinnen Silver Medalist at the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, Alcée Chriss III is widely regarded as one of the leading young organists of our time. He has been celebrated for his “grace, skill and abundant proficiency” by the Journal Assist News, Albuquerque. Of his prize-winning performance at the Longwood Gardens Competition, Choir and Organ Magazine declared, “Chriss stole the show.” 

Mr. Chriss has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and France. Recent performances include the Organ Historical Society’s 2019 convention (Dallas, TX), Riverside Church (NYC), John F. Kennedy Center, and the Washington National Cathedral, among others.

In July 2019, Chriss was appointed as University Organist and Artist-in-Residence at Wesleyan University, where he teaches courses in organ and applied music. In October 2019, Alcee will be awarded his Doctorate of Music degree from McGill University, where he studied with Hans-Ola Ericsson. He previously studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received his Master’s degree in historical keyboard and a Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance.  At Oberlin  he studied organ with James David Christie and Olivier Latry, improvisation with Marie-Louise Langlais, and harpsichord and continuo playing with Webb Wiggins and Hank Knox.  

In addition to his organ and harpsichord performances, Alcee is also active as a church musician, conductor and jazz pianist. He currently serves as the Minister of Music at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ridgefield, CT.

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Performance Notes
  • Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Létourneau (2002) (specifications)
Presentation by Don Cook, AGO Councillor for Education
Scherzo, Op. 2, Maurice Duruflé (1902‑1986)
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Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison

Alan Morrison is recognized as one of America’s premier organists and maintains a versatile career as a performer, teacher, recording artist, adjudicator, and collaborative pianist. His appearances in the most prestigious organ venues throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, Russia and South America attest to his achievements and the respect he has earned as a performer through thoughtful programming and artistic integrity.

Mr. Morrison is a regular performer in Verizon Hall (Kimmel Center) where he has appeared in solo, chamber music and concerto performances. He also collaborates regularly with The Orlando Chamber Soloists.  In May 2003, he was selected to appear along with Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma for the Fred Rogers Memorial Service, which was telecast live from Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall. A champion of living American composers, Mr. Morrison has premiered important new works by William Bolcom, Dan Locklair, David Conte, Eric Sessler, Mary Beth Bennett, and many others, and he has recorded twelve critically acclaimed CDs for Gothic, ACA, Halyx and DTR.

Morrison is Head of the Organ Departments at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he holds the Haas Charitable Trust Chair in Organ Studies. He also holds the McGehee Family Organist in Residence position at Spivey Hall in Morrow, GA, and is College Organist at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA.

A graduate of Curtis and Juilliard, Mr. Morrison received degrees in both organ and collaborative piano studying with John Weaver, Vladimir Sokoloff, and Susan Starr.

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Performance Notes
  • St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Pennsburg, Pennsylvania
  • Patrick J. Murphy & Associates (2000) (specifications)
Photo by Joe Routon
Presentation by Barbara Adler, AGO Treasurer and Councillor for Finance and Development
Presentation by James Thomashower, AGO Executive Director
Presentation by Mark Neidig, AGO Chief Development Officer
Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?, arr. Moses Hogan (1957‑2003)
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Atlanta Master Chorale
Eric Nelson, director
Atlanta Master Chorale

Atlanta Master Chorale (AMC) has crafted one of America’s finest choral sounds, bringing singers and audiences to the place where music touches spirit. The choir was honored with Chorus America’s Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence in 2013 and the 2014 Prudential Board Leadership Award from BoardSource. Capitalizing on the momentum of these accolades, the choir was awarded a coveted performance spot at the 2017 American Choral Directors Association’s National Conference in Minneapolis, performing for nearly 4,000 of the country’s most dedicated choral professionals. In 2018, the Chorale was selected to receive a Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) Program Grant for 2018-20 as well as the recipient of a 2018-19 Leadership DeKalb (Business Leaders) Organization Consulting Project.

Begun in 1985 as Gwinnett Festival Singers, the group gained momentum well beyond its initial suburban reach, drawing singers and audiences from throughout metropolitan Atlanta. With the addition of Dr. Eric Nelson as Artistic Director in 2000, the Board formalized this expanding sphere of influence and Dr. Nelson’s artistic vision under the name Atlanta Sacred Chorale. Dr. Nelson’s exceptional leadership and field-leading conducting skills have propelled the professionally trained but always volunteer group to national recognition as a refined and dedicated community choir. In 2013, the group took another step toward leadership in choral artistry by settling into the designation, challenge, and vision-driven name of Atlanta Master Chorale.

With a dedicated board, staff, and roster of volunteer choristers, Atlanta Master Chorale will continue its mission to “lift the spirit through choral artistry” for many years to come.

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Chelsea Chen in conversation with David Briggs
David Briggs

David Briggs is an internationally renowned organist whose performances are acclaimed for their musicality, virtuosity, and ability to engage audiences of all ages. Recently hailed by the New York Times as ”one of our finest organists,” David performs more than sixty concerts a year spanning several continents.

As one of the leading organ transcribers of symphonic works, David’s transcriptions by composers such as Schubert, Elgar, Ravel, Bach and Mahler (Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth symphonies) are praised for giving listeners the opportunity to experience the organ in a new way.

David frequently performs improvisations to silent films including Phantom of the Opera, Nosferatu, Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde, Jeanne d’Arc, Metropolis, King of Kings, Hunchback of Notre Dame and a variety of Charlie Chaplin films. 

Passionate about making organ music vibrant for future generations, David frequently gives pre-concert lectures and teaches masterclasses at colleges and conservatories across the U.S. and Europe.

 David has recently performed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Notre Dame, Paris; King’s College, Cambridge; St. Paul’s Cathedral, London; Kimmel Center, Philadelphia (PA); The Wanamaker Store, Philadelphia and Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg. Upcoming engagements include Maison Symphonique, Montreal; Duke University Chapel (NC); St. Sulpice and St. Eustache, Paris; Berlin Philharmonie; International Performing Arts Center, Moscow; National Auditorium, Madrid; and Grace Cathedral, San Francisco (CA).

Briggs, a prolific composer, has recorded two DVDs and 37 CDs, many of which include his compositions and transcriptions. David is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York.

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Passacaglia Chromatique (World premiere), David Briggs (b. 1962)
P103 Copy of Ospital 2019 photo-Céline Nieszawer
Thomas Ospital
Thomas Ospital

Titulaire of the grand organ at St Eustache Church in Paris, and Professor of Keyboard Harmony at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, Thomas Ospital has quickly earned a place amongst the world’s finest concert organists.

Mr. Ospital is equally at home performing as a solo recitalist or with choir or orchestra.  He is also eager to perpetuate the art of improvisation in all of its forms, including the accompaniment of silent films.  His performances have taken him throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland and Holland. He has also performed in Russia and in North America, where in 2012 he served for six months as Young Artist in Residence at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France in New Orleans, USA.

Born in 1990, Ospital studied at the Conservatoire Maurice Ravel in Bayonne, France, with Esteban Landart, then at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris where he earned five First Place prizes in organ, improvisation, harmony, counterpoint and fugue, and studied with Olivier Latry, Michel Bouvard, Thierry Escaich, Philippe Lefebvre, László Fassang, Isabelle Duha, Pierre Pincemaille and Jean-François Zygel.  He is a laureate of several international competitions, including the Chartres Competition.

Mr. Ospital has two CD recordings available: Liszt, une divine tragédie recorded at St. Eustache Church featuring the organ music of Franz Liszt, and most-recently Convergences, recorded at the Radio France Concert Hall featuring works by Thierry Escaich, Johann Sebastian Bach, and improvisations by Mr. Ospital.

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Performance Notes

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