2024 Eccles Organ Festival brings world-class music to the Cathedral of the Madeleine

Courtesy photo/Eccles Organ Festival

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The Cathedral of the Madeleine organ is shown, backed by the rose window.

SALT LAKE CITY — The 31st season of the Eccles Organ Festival kicked off on Sept. 8 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine with a performance by Tyler Boehmer, assistant professor of music and organist, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas. The program, “An Evening of Prayer,” featured works by Mendelssohn, Franck and Morel.

Boehmer’s performance leads off a season of six organ recitals along with two master classes, a Christmas concert featuring the brass section of the Utah Symphony and a family concert. Although most events will feature the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s organ, no two will be alike, said Gabriele Terrone, festival organizer and cathedral organist. “The organ literature spans over seven or eight centuries, so it’s very hard to have two similar concert programs. With 800 years of music to draw from, there is both continuity and diversity.”

Two concerts will feature performances by organists from outside the United States: German organist Felix Hell and U.K. organist John Challenger. Along with these artists, “there are four other fabulous young organists from the U.S.,” – Boehmer (Kansas), Brenda Portman (Ohio), Andrew Wu (Washington, D.C.) and David Miller (Minn.), Terrone said.

Hell will teach a master class at Libby Gardner Concert Hall; Challenger, organist and assistant director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral in England, will lead a choral workshop at the Madeleine Choir School. The family concert will feature an organ adaptation of “Peter and the Wolf,” where the sounds of the organ will portray different characters.

Each year the festival performers are selected by a committee made up of Terrone; the cathedral’s music director, Gregory Glenn; two organists from the Tabernacle at Temple Square, Richard Elliott and Andrew Unsworth; American Guild of Organists Salt Lake chapter Dean Shelby Fisher; and University of Utah music professor Dr. Kenneth Udy.

“For the roster of events we have to always balance performers from the United States, local performers and performers that come from out of state,” Terrone said. “We always have in mind that balance of origin and background for the performers to ensure that there is also a diversity of approaches and schools represented in our festival.”

The cathedral’s organ is popular among performers worldwide, Terrone said. “Every organ is different so when a concert organist is requested to play a recital, they have to tailor their program around the organ that they are going to play. So, this indicates that our organ is extremely versatile.”

Since its inception in 1993 the Eccles Organ Festival has expanded its offerings from four recitals to six, along with two master classes and two concerts. It has also developed a stellar reputation in the world of the organ, Terrone said.

“We get requests to participate in the festival all the time,” he said. “I believe the festival is now probably one of the most important festivals in the U.S. and in Europe, you know, because we have the opportunity of inviting performers from all over the world.”

Over his decade-long involvement Terrone has observed an increase in the festival’s popularity.  

“I have seen an increase in participation, in attendance, and also I’m very grateful to see an increase in the support from the public,” he said.

Funding for the festival is provided by the Eccles Foundation, the Salt Lake Chapter of the American League of Organists and many individual donors; this covers traveling expenses, artists’ stipends and other costs.

All Eccles Festival events are free and open to the public; classes may require registration. Recitals and concerts will be performed at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, SLC. They will also be livestreamed on the festival’s website at https://ecclesorganfestival.weebly.com/.

Remaining Festival Schedule

Eccles Festival Organ Recital — Sunday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m. Organist Brenda Portman, resident organist at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Eccles Festival Organ Master Class with organist Felix Hell — Saturday, Nov. 9, 5 p.m. at the University of Utah’s Libby Gardner Concert Hall

Eccles Festival Organ Recital — Sunday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. Organist Felix Hell, featuring masterworks of the organ literature including the entire 6th Symphony by Charles-Marie Widor

Brass and Organ Christmas Spectacular — Sunday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m. featuring the Utah Symphony brass section and cathedral organist Gabriele Terrone

Eccles Festival Organ Recital — Sunday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m. Organist Andrew Vu, assistant director of music of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. Program will include works by Louis Vierne and Johann Sebastian Bach and will conclude with the entire Symphonie-Passion by Marcel Dupré.

Family Concert “Peter and the Wolf” — Saturday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m. Children will learn about the pipe organ through Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved tale “Peter and the Wolf” in a special arrangement for organ. This performance is intended for children ages 3-10 and families; it is part of the Cathedral Family Concert Series.

Eccles Festival Organ Recital — Sunday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Organist Aaron David Miller, director of music at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, Minn. Program will feature works by Bach, Mozart, one of his own and improvisations.

Choral Workshop — Friday, March 7 with John Challenger and the Cathedral Choristers at the Madeleine Choir School. Time TBA

Eccles Festival Organ Recital — Sunday, March 9, 8 p.m. Organist John Challenger, assistant director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, UK, will perform the closing recital presenting works by Jean Alain, Rachel Laurin and Healey Willan.