Author: Lynne Davis

You will not want to miss the last event in the Rie Bloomfield Organ 2024-25 series, the Wednesdays in Wiedemann annual organ POPS with Lynne Davis concert to be held at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 in Wiedemann Hall on the great Marcussen organ.

The organ is the star of the event as it is heard as both a solo and collaborative instrument, performing with two School of Music voice students; David Hunsicker, trumpet professor; Aidan Hill; and as a surprise – the Shocker Sound Machine directed by Lucas Hulett. Complete with a drum line and the whole band ensemble onstage with the organ.

Admission is free, and the concert is livestreamed on the School of Music’s YouTube page.

The Rie Bloomfield Organ Series welcomes its final Distinguished Guest Artist, James Higdon, to perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 in Wiedemann Hall.

Higdon is the Dane and Polly Bales Professor of Organ and director of the Division of Organ and Church Music at the University of Kansas. He has studied at St. Olaf College, Northwestern University and the Eastman School of Music. His recordings include music by Marcel Dupré and Jehan Alain and were recorded all over the world. Holding the W.T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence from 1997 to 1998, he has served as an adjudicator on many international organ competitions, including the Grand Prix de Chartres, in France.

Come and join as he performs on the renowned Marcussen organ. Tickets can be purchased at the College of Fine Arts Box Office, and students can attend at no additional charge with their Shocker ID, thanks to the Student Government Association. In addition, the concert will be livestreamed on the School of Music’s YouTube.

The Rie Bloomfield Organ Series is presenting its second Distinguished Guest Organist, James O’Donnell, in its 2024-25 season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 in Wiedemann Hall. Tickets may be purchased through the Fine Arts Box Office.

O’Donnell will be performing a recital of English, French and German organ music, particularly Franz Liszt’s epic on “Ad nos ad salutarem nostram.” Don’t miss the Conversation with the Artist following the intermission in which Professor Lynne Davis interviews Dr. O’Donnell about his many experiences.

O’Donnell, currently professor of organ at Yale University, is the former organist and music director of Westminster Abbey in London. His last duty there was to organize the music for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The Rie Bloomfield Organ Series welcomes its first distinguished guest artist, Jens Korndörfer, to perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 in Wiedemann Hall.

Dr. Korndörfer is the associate professor of organ at Baylor University in Texas, with a full schedule as guest recitalist in North America and Europe. His program on the great Marcussen organ at WSU will have a wide variety of organ repertoire from the 16th to the 21st century. The “Conversation with the Artist” following intermission will give a chance for the audience to get to know the person behind the recitalist.

Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Box Office. Students can attend at no additional charge with their Shocker ID, thanks to the Student Government Association

Wednesdays in Wiedemann’s annual Organ POPS concert will have a special title this year, “The Winds of Wiedemann,” at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 in Wiedemann Hall.

Braeden Held, a current grad student, Keysto Stotz and Bobby Kitchen, past graduates will join Lynne Davis in this concert featuring wind instruments: the great Marcussen organ, trumpet, tuba and saxophone. The program will include famous organ and trumpet tunes, a tuba sonata by Telemann and the famous Vocalise by Rachmaninov in a version for saxophone and organ.

The concert will be livestreamed on the School of Music’s YouTube page.

The Rie Bloomfield Organ Series will present Distinguished Guest Artist, Alcee Chriss, in an organ recital on the Marcussen organ at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 in Wiedemann Hall.

Winner of the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition, Dr. Chriss is widely regarded as one of the leading young organists of the modern times. He studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and received his doctorate from McGill University in Montreal. Dr. Chriss is also active as a church musician and guest lecturer, and he remains engaged with his lifelong love of gospel and jazz music, which he will demonstrate during the concert.

Tickets are available at the College of Fine Arts Box Office and at wichita.edu/organ.

Wednesdays in Wiedemann continues with Professor Lynne Davis at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in Wiedemann Hall on the Marcussen organ.

Admission to the half hour recital is available at no additional charge, and the event will be livestreamed on the School of Music Facebook page.

The program includes transcriptions to two famous songs by Gabriel Fauré as well as variations on the old Flemish tune, “Est-ce Mars?” (“Is it the God of War, Mars?”) by Sweelinck.

The first performance in 2024 of Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Professor Lynne Davis will take place at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Wiedemann Hall on the great Marcussen organ.

There is admission at no additional charge to the half-hour program, which includes works by Nicolas de Grigny, Samuel Barber and Louis Vierne. Come and experience WSU’s iconic hall and organ.

Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis presents its annual Christmas Organ Concert on the Marcussen organ at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Wiedemann Hall. Admission is available at no additional charge to hear and participate in the yearly event, which includes audience singing of beloved songs and carols as well as works on the organ and for solo voice with Alan Held and Hilary Taylor, both from the voice faculty at the School of Music.

The event will be live-streamed on the School of Music Facebook page.

“Organized Rhythm”, the exceptional duo of organist, Clive Driskill-Smith, and percussionist, Joseph Gramley, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 in Wiedemann Hall.

The combination of the two instruments onstage is explosive and will appeal to a large audience and don’t miss the Conversation with the Artists, an onstage interview with host, Lynne Davis. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the artists and what they do.

Tickets can be purchased at the College of Fine Arts Box Office and through the online storefront. Wichita State students can receive one ticket at no additional charge with their Shocker ID thanks to the support of the Student Government Association.