MARILYN KEISER Kicks Off The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Series for Kimmel Center’s 10th Anniversary Season, Nov. 5
OCTOBER 19, 2011
“She represents to the organ world what the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis did to America: the epitome of taste, dignity, and elegance.’ — The American Organist
Internationally renowned organist Marilyn Keiser kicks off The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Series part of Kimmel Center’s 10th Anniversary Season on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 3pm. A beloved organ teacher and in-demand recitalist, the ever-graceful Keiser’s mesmerizing playing breaths new light into classic and contemporary works on the king of instruments.
Heard on NPR stations throughout the country, Marilyn Keiser’s performance at the Kimmel Center includes: Locklair’s Phoenix Processional, Howells’ Rhapsody, Op. 17, No. 1, Handel’s Concerto in F Major, Op. 4, No. 5, Rheinberger’s Introduction and Passacaglia (from Sonata No. 8 in E minor, Op. 132), Paulus’s Blithely Breezing Along (from Baronian Suite), Locklair’s In Mystery and Wonder (The Cassavant Diptich), Vierne’s No. 2, Impromptu (from 24 Pieces de Fantaisie, 3rd Suite, Op. 54, and Mulet’s Carillon-Sortie.
“... her playing spoke to multi-layers of the psyche – at times dazzling, sometimes mesmerizing and constantly thought-provoking.” – Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Tickets for Marilyn Keiser are available from $19 to $28 by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center Box Office located on Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102 (open daily from 10am to 6pm, later on performance evenings.)
Marilyn Keiser is Chancellor’s Professor of Music Emeritus at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, where she has taught courses in sacred music and applied organ for 25 years. Prior to her appointment at Indiana University, Dr. Keiser was organist and director of music at All Souls Parish in Asheville, North Carolina and music consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, holding both positions from 1970 to 1983.
In constant demand as an organ recitalist and workshop leader, Dr. Keiser has appeared throughout the United States in concerts sponsored by churches, colleges and chapters of The American Guild of Organists. She has been a featured artist for regional conventions of the AGO as well as for national conventions in Dallas and Washington D.C., where she played with orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and in Detroit, where she appeared with the Detroit Symphony. In addition, she has appeared as featured artist for the International Congress of Organists in Cambridge, England; in concert at the Royal Victoria Hall with the Singapore Symphony; at the American Cathedral in Paris, the Southern Cathedrals Festival in Winchester, England and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
Marilyn Keiser has been heard in performance on radio broadcasts on National Public Radio stations throughout the United States and has recorded for Loft Recordings (Music of Paris in the 1920’s and 1930’s) and Pro Organo (The People Respond-Amen, Spiritual Pairs, Studies in Relief and In Praise of the Organ: Latin Choral and Organ Music of Zoltan Kodaly). She has also recorded Seasons of Festivity at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Centennial Flourish at St. James’ Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
In May of 1995, she was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. In April, 1997 she was presented the Unitas Citation from Union Theological Seminary and in April 1998 she was presented with a Teaching Excellence Recognition Award from the Indiana University School of Music. She was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Illinois Wesleyan University in February 2002. In April of 2002, she was named Chancellor’s Professor at Indiana University.
A native of Springfield, Illinois, Dr. Keiser began her organ study with Franklin Perkins, then attended Illinois Wesleyan University where she studied organ with Lillian McCord, graduating with a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree. Dr. Keiser entered the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she studied organ with Alec Wyton and graduated summa cum laude in 1965 with a Master of Sacred Music degree. Her Doctor of Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary was awarded in 1977.
“…highly polished … real sparkle to the evening ... Keiser is an artist who must be seen performing to be fully appreciated. Her entire body is involved in the art of re-creating the musical line. She loves and lives the music.” – The News and Observer
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts’ Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience from throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The 2011/2012 season is sponsored by Citi. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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