It’s Alive! The ever-popular Halloween Organ Concert rises from the dead with the arrival of Dr. Stephen Price, the UW’s inaugural Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow, who joins with friends to host a program of spooky organ classics and Halloween fun. With Melia Watras, Wyatt Smith, Trey Wheeler, Karen Haining, Emily Chua, and Stephen Price.
Program
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Wyatt Smith
In The Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite) – Edvard Grieg (b.1843-1907)
Salamanca (from 'Trois Préludes Hambourgeois') – Guy Bovet (b.1942)
Stephen Price
Hebräisches Wiegenlied, Op. 35, No. 2 (Hebrew Lullaby) – Joseph Achron (1886-1943)
Après un rêve, Op. 7, No. 1 (After a dream) – Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
Lied for Viola and Organ, Op. 2, No. 5 – Toivo Kuula (1883-1918)
Improvisation – Watras/Price
Melia Watras, viola and Stephen Price
Pastorale
From 24 Pièces en style libre, Op.31 – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Karen Haining
Arabesque
From 24 Pièces en style libre, Op.31 – Louis Vierne (1870-1937)
Emily Chua
*Pumpkin Carol: “The Twelve Days of Halloween”
"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from Les Miserables, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer.
Trey Wheeler
*Audience Participation
Selections from Star Wars – John Williams (b. 1932) Arr. by Tony Esposito
Stephen Price
Präludium in f-sharp minor, BuxWV 146 – Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Wyatt Smith
Biographies
Emily Chau
Emily Chua is in her final year at the UW, completing her studies in music and math. Her primary instrument is the piano; besides performing, she teaches and accompanies other musicians. She is also a part of the School of Music Student Advisory Council, which works to improve student quality of life and promote student collaboration with school leadership. Emily's interest in music extends beyond the applied, and she has taken classes in music education and music law.
Most recently, Emily has performed with the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra, Music for Charity at UW, at University Chorale's annual cabaret, and at the UW's annual Undergraduate Composers Concert, encompassing a variety of genres. She anticipates continued performances and collaborations this year. In her free time, Emily enjoys transcribing or arranging pop music and OSTs for piano, or learning new instruments. This is her first performance on the organ.
Karen Haining
Karen Haining is a fourth-year student at the University of Washington working towards her B.M. Piano Performance and B.S. Computer Science. She currently studies piano with Dr. Robin McCabe and recently began studying organ with Dr. Stephen Price. In the past, Karen has received top prizes at local piano competitions, including the Chopin NW Festival, the Russian Piano Festival, and more, and has performed live on Classical King FM. Outside of solo works, Karen enjoys playing in chamber ensembles and as a collaborative pianist. Karen loves trying new things and is excited for the opportunity to venture into the world of organ!
Wyatt Smith
Hailed as a performer with “nuance, polish, and personality” (Michael Barone, APM Pipedreams), Wyatt Smith is an American concert organist appearing in both solo and collaborative performances throughout the United States and Europe, performing repertoire spanning from old masters to major works by living composers. Wyatt has performed in 28 states of the USA, along with Germany, France, and England.
An advocate of new music for the organ, Wyatt has commissioned and premiered works by Emma Lou Diemer, Margaret Sandresky, Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, Carson Cooman, Craig Phillips, Kurt Knecht, and more. These commissions include works based on chants and chorales, programmatic pieces, and chamber music.
Wyatt Smith holds degrees in organ performance from the University of Washington (DMA), Yale University (MM), and the University of South Dakota (BM). His primary mentors include Dr. Carole Terry, Dr. Martin Jean, and Dr. Larry Schou. He is represented by Seven Eight Artists.
Trey Wheeler
Trey Wheeler is currently in his senior year at UW and come June he’ll graduate with Bachelor of Music in both Music Education and Vocal Performance. Currently, Trey is anticipating an upcoming show he’s involved with called ‘Let’s All Drink and Do Broadway”. In March he will have his Senior Voice Recital, singing works by Schumann, Ravel, Sondheim and more. Trey will finish his educational career by student teaching full-time in a high school choir classroom. He is also excited about the many opportunities to come after college.
