Since 2007 the Music Outreach Program at FLC hosted artists of international caliber. Here you can find their bios, programs and excerpts of their performances.
Christa Rakich (2007/2008/2011)
Former Artist-in-Residence at First Lutheran, Christa Rakich studied for two years with Anton Heiller at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Organ and German from Oberlin College. Christa directs the Music Program at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford, CT.
James Woodman: Chamber Sonata for Organ and Clarinet (Christa Rakich, organ, Balint Karosi, clarinet)
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Sietze deVries (2007/2009)
Making music out of intrinsic conception and one’s own creativity. That, in short, is the credo of the organist and church musician Sietze de Vries (1973). The spearhead is improvisation as trade, and thus as path of learning. The collection of historic organs in the Netherlands, especially in the province of Groningen, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Sietze deVries Improvisation on “Wie Schön leuchtet”
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William Porter (2011)
Widely known as a performer and teacher in the United States and Europe, William Porter is a leader among organists working toward recovery of an historical approach to musical performance, and has achieved international recognition for his skill in improvisation in a wide variety of styles.
Benjamin Alard (2008)
A recitalist on both harpsichord and organ, Benjamin Alard has performed at prestigious early music festivals and venues: Nantes (Le Printemps des Arts & La Folle Journée), Saintes, Brussels (‘Flagey’ Hall), etc. He also collaborates with leading ensembles such as La Petite Bande (director Sigiswald Kuijken), Capriccio Stravagante (director Skip Sempé), Venice Baroque Orchestra (director Andrea Marcon).
Sonata in e Minor BWV 529 III. un pocc’allegro by J. S. Bach
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BACH BIRTHDAY RECITALS, FLC/AGO: FOUR-YEAR OVERVIEW
Performers and year(s) they played:
Margaret Angelini ‘12
Heinrich Christensen 09, 11
James David Christie 10
Frank Corbin 10
Mark Dwyer 10
Nancy Granert 10
Janet Hunt 09
Bálint Karosi 09, 10,11, 12
Peter Krasinski 12
Christian Lane 10
Agnes Joo-Hee Lee 12
Colin Lynch 12
Andrus Madsen 11
Brett Maguire 11
Luca Massaglia 10
Adam Peithmann 09
William Porter 11
Christa Rakich 11
Sean Redrow 09
Joyce Painter Rice 09
Lee Ridgway 09
Brandon Santini 12
Michael Sponseller 11
Jake Street 10
Jonathan Wessler 12
Programs:
2009 (March 21) — BOSTON BACH BIRTHDAY 324
10:30 Peep the Piper, for children of all ages; written by Guy Bovet; Bálint Karosi, organ
11:15 Joyce Painter Rice
12:00 Adam Peithmann (student of Martin Jean and recommended by Martin Jean)
12:30 Lunch $10
1:30 Lee Ridgway
2:15 Janet Hunt, FAGO
3:00 Sean Redrow
3:45 Heinrich Christensen
4:30 Bálint Karosi – a 2nd performance of Guy Bovet’s Peep the Piper
5:00 Bálint Karosi – Bach Organ “Fireworks”
2010 (March 20) — BOSTON BACH BIRTHDAY 325
10:30 Peep The Piper – by Guy Bovet; Bálint Karosi, organ
11:30 Bálint Karosi
12:00 Lunch $12.
1:00 Nancy Granert (Emmanuel Church & Harvard University), organ
1:45 Frank Corbin (Assumption College, Worcester), organ
2:30-5:00 at Emmanuel: Master Class on Bach arias, with invited student ensembles.
2:30 Christian Lane (Harvard University), organ
3:15 Mark Dwyer (Church of the Advent, Boston), organ
4:00 Luca Massaglia (Torino, Italy), organ
4:45 Jake Street (Holy Cross, Worcester)
5:30 James David Christie
Evening: Panel discussion and cantata at Emmanuel
2011 (March 19) — BOSTON BACH BIRTHDAY 326
10:30 a.m. Discovering a Great Pipe Organ – William Porter, presenter
11:30 German Lunch $12
12:30 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk: Bach’s Clavierübung III – William Porter
CLAVIERÜBUNG III Organ Recitals
1:00 William Porter
1:45 Christa Rakich
2:30 Andrus Madsen
3:15 Heinrich Christensen
4:00 Bálint Karosi & Michael Sponseller
4:45 Brett Maguire
5:30 Cantata: Geist und Seele wird verwirret (BWV 35) – for solo organ with period instruments; Choir: Exsultemus; Organ: Bálint Karosi
2012 (March 24) — BOSTON BACH BIRTHDAY 327
10:30 Jonathan Wessler (St. Paul’s, Harvard Square)
11:15 The Third Choice, written by Paul A. Blanchard: a historical narrative about the appointment of J S Bach as Cantor in Leipzig. Robert Hiss, narrator.
11:45 Colin Lynch (Trinity Church Boston)
12:15 A German Lunch $13
1:30 Principal Paul, Children’s program: Peter Krasinski
2:30 Margaret Angelini (St. John’s R.C., Sharon)
3:15 Brandon Santini (Holy Trinity Lutheran, No. Easton; now at St. Theresa’s, W. Roxbury)
4:00 Agnes Joo-Hee Lee (South Korea and New Jersey)
4:45 Bálint Karosi