Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in association with the Philadelphia Chapter of The American Guild of Organists (AGO), is proud to present the 7th Annual Organ Day, a six-hour marathon of FREE organ music performed on The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ taking place on Saturday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Audiences of all ages are invited to explore “Fred,” the largest mechanical pipe organ in a concert venue in the United States, through a diverse line-up of programming tailored to include something for everyone. This year’s Organ Day will include demonstrations by AGO organists, our family-friendly Grow Up Great program, silent film with organ, special performances with Opera Philadelphia, Philadelphia Brass, and more!
And don’t miss Organ Pumps, where audience members can lie on the stage of Verizon Hall and feel the powerful vibrations of the organ!
FULL PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
Host: Michael Barone
11:00 AM WELCOME
11:15 AM PNC GROW UP GREAT
12:00 PM KIDS ON STAGE WITH THE ORGAN
Kids have the opportunity to play the organ!
12:15 PM ORGANIST ROBERT McCORMICK IN RECITAL
12:45 PM MEMBERS OF AGO CHAPTER RECITALS
“Nature in Organ Music”
Kathleen Scheide, David Furniss, Andrew Heller, Edward Landin
1:15 PM OPERA PHILADELPHIA
A 60-voice choir performing selections from a variety of operas including Handel’s Hercules, Higdon’s Cold Mountain, Mozart’s Idomeneo, Verdi’s Aida, Wagner’s Parsifal, and more.
2:00 PM Break
2:15 PM PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF FRED J. COOPER ORGAN BOOK
Fanfare on "Gelobt sei Gott" - Matthew Glandorf ~~ Parker Kitterman, Organist
Reflection for Organ - Kile Smith ~~ David Furniss, Organist
Kokopelli: Trickster God - David Schelat ~~ Clara Gerdes, Organist
Organum - Kathleen Scheide ~~ Edward Landin, Organist
Philadelphia Finale - Jeffrey Brillhart ~~ Daryl Robinson, Organist
3:00 PM PHILADELPHIA BRASS AND ORGAN
Organist Peter Conte
3:30 PM PHILADELPHIA AGO CHAPTER COMPETITION WINNER
Clara Gerdes
4:00 PM IMPROVISATION BY ROBERT McCORMICK
4:15 PM SILENT MOVIE
4:45 PM ORGAN PUMPS
Come lie down on stage and feel the vibrations
Organ programming is generously supported by the Wyncote Foundation.