STAMFORD — First Presbyterian Church in Stamford will host a recital at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, as part of the Organ Music in the Catskills recital series featuring organist Eddie Zheng. He will play the church’s historic Hook and Hastings pipe organ and pianist Youlan Ji and vocalist Fred Nelson will join him.

According to a media release, Zheng, a native of New York City, is a master’s degree student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School. His aim to promote the masterworks of the organ to broader audiences around the world has led to performances in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and Beijing, where he has helped new audiences in China discover the organ.

With a focus on lyrical phrasing and articulate touch combined with thoughtful programming and spoken notes, Zheng’s performances at the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition and the 2019 AGO Quimby Northeast Regional Competition granted him first place awards, concert opportunities, and his engagement as Artist-in-Residence at the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York.

Recently appointed as organ associate at First Presbyterian Church Greenwich in Connecticut, Zheng seeks to encourage wider musical appreciation through service playing and youth involvement.

Having spent many summers in the Catskills, Zheng created the Organ Music in the Catskills series in 2021 partnering with historic churches to host recitals featuring the organ and other instruments to enthusiastic local audiences. The concert in Stamford will be his fourth in the series.

The program of festive music will feature composers J.S. Bach, Alexander Guilmant and George Frideric Handel.

Admission is free and light refreshments will be served following the performance.

The church is at 96 Main St. in Stamford.

Original article: https://www.thedailystar.com/news/church-to-host-thanksgiving-recital/article_9391bfc2-669e-11ed-8952-37fd82dfb02e.html

Posted Tuesday, August 16, 2022 12:00 am

The organ recital and spring concert original scheduled for May at the Hobart Presbyterian Church, Maple Street, will now take place Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. in the church sanctuary. 

Organist Eddie Zheng, is a student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School. In addition to his studies, Eddie is currently artist in residence at the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York City.

He will be playing the Hobart church’s impressive M. P. Möller pipe organ, installed in 1914, restored in 1979 and currently in excellent form. He will perform a selection that includes works by Bach, Vivaldi and more.

The concert will also feature vocalist Heather Walts of Stamford and pianist and Julliard student Youlan Ji.

There is elevator access to the sanctuary. There will be a free-will collection to help defray the costs of the event.

For further information, visit the church’s Facebook page. 

https://www.the-reporter.net/stories/hobart-organ-recital-and-concert-aug-24,87608?

The AGO Student Commissioning Project is the AGO’s most recent new music initiative. Each year, grants of $1,000 are awarded to four collaborative composer-and-organist pairs for the composition and performance of four new works for the organ. In the fall, as the academic year begins, a student pair submits a joint application describing a proposed work and its performance. There are no restrictions with regard to a work’s compositional style; however, all composers and organists must be enrolled as full- or part-time students at an accredited U.S. college, university, or conservatory. After the new work is approved by the AGO Committee on New Music, the organist must premiere the work and provide a video recording. 2021-2022 Project Guidelines

Award: Four grants of $1,000 will be awarded each year to four composer and organist pairs by the AGO Committee on New Music.

2021-2022 Projects

Four composer-organist student pairs were selected in the fall of 2021: Kylar Gardner (composer) and Nicholas Halbert (organist) from Arizona State University; Eric Pickford (composer) from the College of Charleston and Carson Hayes (organist) from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts; J.P. Redmond (composer) and Eddie Zheng (organist) from Juilliard; and Alvin Tam (composer) from Indiana University and Zoe Lei (organist) from the University of Michigan.

Eddie Zheng plays Ricercar by J.P. Redmond

J.P. and I worked together over the course of several months in preparation of writing and performing a new work for organ. Meeting at the organs at Juilliard, we discussed how to best write for the nuances of the instrument, what would work well and what was to be avoided, and what our overall idea for the piece might be. What came out of this process was ‘Ricercar’ – a piece featuring three sections. Initially presented are the imaginative, dream-like beginnings of a toccata with weaving hand figurations, which then gives way to an intricate dialogue of hocket figures, with a background of shifting meters. The two sections and their themes collide in the final, hopeful conclusion.

https://www.agohq.org/ago-student-commissioning-project/

"The Juilliard School in New York is one of the most important performing arts training institutions in the world, and its organ department is headed by Paul Jacobs, a personality who was described in the New Yorker as 'one of the leading musicians of our time.' In this film, Paul Jacobs takes us to the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola and to Paul Hall at Juilliard, where he and some of the students in the organ class present us with an eclectic program." Paul Jacobs (1st work), Eddie Zheng (2nd work), Amelie Held (3rd-4th, 9th works), Raphael Attila Vogl (5th, 9th works), Aletheia Teague (6th work), Elena Baquerizo (7th work), Jeremy Jelinek (8th work), organ ; Audrey Emata, flute (2nd work) ; Amanda Kengor, harp (6th work) ; Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo-soprano (8th work) ; Simon Herron, Matthew West, percussion (9th work). Interviewees for opening segment: Paul Jacobs, Daniel Ficarri, Cecily Demarco, Eddie Zheng, Aletheia Teague, Raphael Attila Vogl, Phoon Yu, Bobby Nguyen.

Festival Program

Dudley Buck: Concert Variations on The Star-Spangled Banner, Op. 23 / Paul Jacobs, organ • John Weaver: Pastorale for Flute and Organ / Audrey Emata, flute; Eddie Zheng, organ

William Albright: Final Offering from Organ Book III William Albright: Sweet-Sixteenths: A Concert Rag for Organ / Amelie Held, organ • J.S. Bach: Brandenburg No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048 (trans. by Raphael Attila Vogl) / Raphael Attila Vogl, organ

Marcel Grandjany: Aria in Classic Style for Harp and Organ / Amanda Kengor, harp; Aletheia Teague, organ • Calvin Hampton: Everyone Dance from Five Dances for Organ / Elena Baquerizo, organ

Calvin Hampton: Everyone Dance from Five Dances for Organ Elena Baquerizo, organ

View the film here: https://io-of.org/events/new-york-juilliard-school/

Original Article

The Hobart Presbyterian Church will be presenting a musical event featuring familiar Christmas hymns and carols and a talented young organist on December 22 at 7:00 pm in the church sanctuary.

Organist Eddie Zheng, a native of New York City, is a BM/MM student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School. He has received first prize in several prestigious organ competitions, and has performed in cities throughout North America, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and several times in Beijing, China. In addition to his studies, Eddie is currently Artist in Residence at the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York City.

He will be playing the Hobart church’s impressive M. P. Möller pipe organ, built in 1913 and installed in 1914, restored in 1979 and currently in excellent form. He will perform a selection of solo works for organ and familiar hymns and carols, with occasional commentary and explanation.

The concert will also feature vocalist Heather Walts of Stamford and pianist and Julliard student Youlan Ji.

The sanctuary is large and per CDC guidelines, masks are recommended. There is elevator access to the sanctuary. Admission is free; those attending are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food and personal items for a local food bank.

Wed Dec 22nd 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Hobart Presbyterian Church, 78 Maple Avenue, Hobart, NY, USA

Original Article

Pelham, New York – Concerts at Christ Church, a community outreach of historic Christ Church in Pelham, is co-hosting an organ recital with the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists this coming Sunday afternoon, September 26, at 4 pm. This “Rising Stars” recital will feature three students from the Juilliard School studio of Paul Jacobs performing on the 2019 Jack Hennigan Memorial Juget-Sinclair pipe organ at Christ Church.

The three performers are Cecily DeMarco, who will play works by Preston, J. S. Bach, Widor, and Felix Mendelssohn; Jacob Gruss, playing works by Mathias, Franck, and J. S. Bach; and Eddie Zheng, playing works by Robert Schumann, Bach, and Elgar. The concert is free of charge for members of the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The public is also invited to attend. A suggested $20 donation per person to help the Guild Chapter defray expenses is requested. Masks will be required to be worn by all who attend. Reservations are required.

Please RSVP to: https://forms.gle/rNxbdDtU5wo9MBkz8.

Christ Church, Pelham is located at 1415 Pelhamdale Avenue (on the corner of Shore Road and Pelhamdale Avenue), Pelham, New York 10803.

Weather-permitting, an outdoor reception will follow the performance.

Original Article

STAMFORD — First Presbyterian Church, in Stamford will host an organ concert featuring Eddie Zheng playing the church’s historic Hook and Hastings pipe organ at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29.

According to a media release, Zheng is a student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School on a combined bachelors’/master’s track.

He was the first prize winner of the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition and the 2019 AGO Quimby Northeast Regional Competition.

Zheng has performed in a number of North American cities, including New York (St. Patrick’s Cathedral), New Haven, Montreal, and Eugene, as well as in China at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, Beijing Concert Hall, and the Beijing Golden Sail Concert Hall.

He is an artist-in-residence at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church and has also held positions as organ scholar at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Calvary Baptist Church and Rye Presbyterian Church.

Singer Heather Walts, First Presbyterian’s choir director and soloist, will join Zheng on two selections, accompanied by Juilliard pianist Youlan Ji.

Walts, a graduate of the College of Saint Rose, has performed on singing tours of Europe, locally with Glimmerglass Opera, and is a member of the Community Chorale of the Catskills.

The program will include selections from the works of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Schumann.

Admission is free and light refreshments will be served following the performance. The church is at 96 Main St. in Stamford.

Original Article

On June 9, The Juilliard School’s organ department, under the direction of Paul Jacobs, performed a live-streamed concert from Paul Hall at Lincoln Center, New York City. The program included collaborations with flute, harp, and voice, with music by Alberto Ginastera, Rachel Laurin, Dan Locklair, John Weaver, and Charles-Marie Widor, and transcriptions of Fauré, Mahler, and Wagner.

Performing on the program were organists Elena Baquerizo, Eddie Zheng, Cecily DeMarco, Edward Hewes, Aletheia Teague, Jeremy Jelinek, Jeremiah Mead, Yuejian Chen, with Audrey Emata (flute), Tiffany Wong (harp), and Joseph Parrish (baritone).

Student performers with Paul Jacobs for June 9 Juilliard concert at Lincoln Center

Organist Eddie Zheng and flutist Audrey Emata—both third-years—played John Weaver's Pastorale for Flute and Organ last week at an organ recital, part of the Wednesdays at One series. John Weaver (1937-2021) was chair of Juilliard’s organ department from 1987 to 2004. Eddie said, "It’s always a great experience to play chamber music that involves the organ. Thankfully, there’s a lot! To me, Weaver’s compositions combine a wonderful sense of mysticism with contemporary American influences. Performing this piece came with the task of pairing the variety of colors from the organ with the expressive sound of the flute."

https://www.facebook.com/TheJuilliardSchool/photos/a.174944019250106/4048410811903388/?type=3

Original Article

Organists Eddie Zheng and Daniel Ficcari will bring the beautiful organ at St. Pius X to life with a program including the works of Bach, Mendelssohn, Karg-Elert and others. The recital will be just over an hour in length and is free of charge. To maintain COVID-19 limited occupancy and safety protocols, reservations and masks covering nose and mouth are required.

Reservations can be made at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084ba4ab2dabfc1-rising or by calling the parish office at 914-725-2755. Once your reservation is confirmed, please arrive 10-15 minutes before the performance to allow time be safely seated while social distancing. Reservations for late arrivals may not be honored. No walk-ins, please.

This performance will also be live streamed and recorded.

PROGRAM:

Mendelssohn – Organ Sonata No. 4 in Bb Major, Op. 65
J.S. Bach – Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532
Eddie Zheng, organist

Fanfare by John Cook
Ritornello alla Brahms from 33 Portraits, Op. 101 by Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Allegretto from Organ Sonata in E-flat, Op. 65 by Horatio Parker
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 by J. S. Bach
Daniel Ficarri, organist

Original Article

Program

BOYLE Sky Mount; Bobby Volkman, Guitar; Raphael Attila Vogl, Organ
PHILIPS A Song Without Words; Mizuki Hayakawa, Cello; Eddie Zheng, Organ
SAINT-SAËNS Prière, Op.158; Mizuki Hayakawa, Cello; Eddie Zheng, Organ
BREY Bubbled; Yuejian Chen, Organ
SCHUMANN Dichterliebe; Michael McDermott, Tenor; Elena Baquerizo, Organ
Daniel FICARRI Visions of the Holy Spirit; Rev. Mark-David Janus, CSP, Narrator; Daniel Ficarri, Organ

Venue
Paul Hall

Original Article

Sunday, November 3
Speaking of honoring community heroes, a Farewell to the Redeemer Organ concert is planned from 7 to 8 p.m. at Church of the Redeemer (185 Cold Spring St, New Haven; 203-787-5711). Referring to the church’s Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, which it’s had for nearly 70 years, organizers say that “this will be the last public performance on this glorious instrument in New Haven as it leaves us to serve another community.” And it’s going out in style, with performances by Yale’s university organist Thomas Murray, Trinity Church’s musical director Walden Moore, Yale’s director of chapel music Nathaniel Gumbs and award-winning Juilliard undergraduate Eddie Zheng.

Original Article

Saturday, October 26, 2019

• 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

• Plymouth Church 57 Orange Street Brooklyn, NY, 11201 United States (map)

The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter Presents:

2019 Scholarship Winners’ Organ Recital

Featuring Eddie Zheng (The Juilliard School)
Samantha Scheff (Rutgers University)
Hannah Lingen Cen (Manhattan School of Music)

A Freewill Offering Will Benefit
The Brooklyn AGO Scholarship Competition Fund

Original Article

Sunday, October 13, 2019, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Students of Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School, New York City

Alexander Pattavina, organist
Max Reger (1873-1916): Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Op. 59
John Ireland (1879-1962): Capriccio

Cecily DeMarco, organist
César Franck (1822-1890): Pastorale, Op. 19

Eddie Zheng, organist
César Franck (1822-1890): from Trois Chorals pour Orgue:
3. Chorale in A Minor

Phoon Yu, organist
Chen Zhangyi (b. 1984): from The Seven Angels
The First Angel
The Second Angel
The Third Angel
The Seventh Angel

Alan Montgomery, organist
Edward Elgar (1857-1934): from Sonata in G Major, Op. 28
Allegro maestoso

Daniel Ficarri, organist
Louis Vierne (1870-1937): from Troisième Symphonie pour grand orgue, Op. 28
IV. Adagio
V. Final

Original Article

NEW YORK –– Juilliard organists, under the direction of Organ Department Chair Paul Jacobs, give a free recital featuring American and British music at Marble Collegiate Church, located at Fifth Avenue and 29th Street, on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 7:30pm. The concert is part of the Marble Music Next Door series, co-sponsored by Juilliard, Marble, and the NYC chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Juilliard organists Elena Baquerizo, Daniel Ficarri, Jeremiah Mead, Alan Montgomery, Alexander Pattavina, Raphael Attila Vogl, Phoon Yu, and Eddie Zheng will be performing works on the church’s new pipe organ, which was designed and voiced by Sebastian M. Glück.

Admission is free; no tickets are required.

The program features Elgar’s Allegro Maestoso from Sonata in G Major, Op. 28; Copland’s Prelude from Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (trans. Ficarri) and Preamble for a Solemn Occasion; John Weaver’s Fantasia for Organ; Frank Bridge’s Adagio in E Major; Charles Stanford’s Fantasia and Toccata, Op. 57; Calvin Hampton’s Five Dances; Florence Beatrice Price’s Adoration; John Cage’s Souvenir; and John Knowles Paine’s Concert Variations on the Austrian Hymn.

About the program of American and British organ music, organ alumnus David Crean writes: “By the 20th century, England and America each had a robust, but quite distinct, organ culture, with technically advanced instruments and supremely skilled performers. This concert explores repertoire from these traditions. Despite the geographical and chronological proximity, the stylistic range of these pieces is vast: from the Victorian pageantry of Elgar and Stanford to the quintessentially American voice of Aaron Copland to the always-radical experiments of John Cage.”

About the Juilliard Organ Department

Led by renowned organist Paul Jacobs, Juilliard’s organ department enjoys an outstanding reputation, attracting talented young artists from around the world. Organ students at Juilliard work closely with Jacobs and enjoy many opportunities for solo and ensemble performances. Juilliard organists perform in Alice Tully Hall, on its restored Kuhn organ, are featured in recitals at churches throughout New York City, and hold prominent church positions in the New York City area. Weekly performance classes attract a regular stream of interested visitors. In addition to lessons and master classes, organ majors take courses in service playing and organ literature. Juilliard houses several pipe organs in various styles, including instruments by Holtkamp, Schoenstein, Flentrop, and Noack.

Original Article

The 22nd annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford competition was devoted to high school aged organists and took place September 28–29 at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut.

First Prize in performance was awarded to Eddie Zheng of New York, New York, a student of Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School. Second prize was presented to Bruce Xu of Sloatsburg, New York, also co-winner of the Prize of the Audience. Emily Dawn Amos, a student at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, Michigan, took Third Prize in the performance competition, won First Prize in the David Spicer Hymn Playing Competition, and shared the Prize of the Audience. Other finalists in the competitions were Reilly Xu of New York and Justin Brueggeman of Tennessee.

Competition judges were Chelsea Chen, Renée Anne Louprette, and Benjamin Straley. Vaughn Mauren is artistic director of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford. The festival opened with a concert featuring performances by the judges and by Christopher Houlihan as soloist with members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

The competition alternates years between high school aged organists and young professional organists, generally of university age. Judges for the September 2019 festival will be Diane Meredith Belcher, Thomas Murray, and John Rose, with $29,000 in prizes to be awarded. This year’s festival will open with organ and the full Hartford Symphony Orchestra on September 20 at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. For information: www.asofhartford.org.

Chelsea Chen, Benjamin Straley, Renée Anne Louprette, Emily Amos, Bruce Xu, Reilly Xu, Eddie Zheng, and Justin Brueggeman (photo credit: Vaughn Mauren)