Concordia music faculty perform recitals in September

Concordia music faculty members presented a showcase recital at 3 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the Music Center’s recital hall featuring a variety of original compositions as well as classic musical literature. Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo performed a solo recital at 3 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the recital hall featuring piano pieces associated with Lutheran hymnody.

The faculty showcase featured Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles Ore performing a new composition he has written. The piece is a set of variations for the organ using selections from the biblical books of Genesis and Galatians set to the old hymn tune “Amazing Grace.”

Other performers at the faculty showcase included Dr. Adrienne Dickson singing a mezzo soprano opera aria and musical theater piece, Talea Bloch singing soprano selections from “Prayers From the Ark,” Jesse LaBrie singing an English art song in bass, Michael Keelan performing two Telemann fantasias on violin, Dr. Wendy Schultz performing pieces by Brahms and Gossec on trombone and Grimpo playing an impromptu by Clara Schumann on piano.

Grimpo presented her solo piano recital on Sept. 21 using pieces that all have a connection to Lutheran Christian hymnody. She played hymn arrangements by composer Wayne Oquin, a Julliard faculty member, as well as other composers’ arrangements of the hymn tunes “Canonbury,” “Old Hundreth” and “Austria.”

Grimpo will also perform this recital at Concordia University-Chicago for its Lectures in Church Music event Oct. 19–21.