World Famous Organist Returns to USU to Perform in Kent Concert Hall

James Welch, university organist of Santa Clara University in the San Francisco Bay area, will present a recital free and open to the public in the Kent Concert Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center at Utah State University Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.

 

“I performed at the dedicatory concert of the Kent Concert Hall in 1974 and look forward to performing on the Holtkamp organ, which, with its 3,027 pipes is the largest pipe organ in northern Utah,” Welch said.

 

Welch has concertized worldwide, with recitals throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and the United States.

 

“We are excited for the Kent Concert Hall to again be filled with the sounds of a stunning organ performance by Dr. James Welch,” said Craig Jessop, head of the Department of Music at USU.

 

Some of the featured works include selections from Bach, music from the Germanic Romantic period and pieces by contemporary Mexican and Brazilian composers. Snatches of “West Side Story” will be heard as well as a featured piece written last year by Utah composer Rulon Christiansen. Concluding the program will be the final movement from Louis Vierne’s monumental Symphony No. 1.

 

Welch received his doctorate in organ performance from Stanford University. He also studied at BYU with Parley Belnap, with Alexander Schreiner and in France and Austria.

 

Following the recital, a reception honors Welch and will be held at the Tippetts Gallery and Balcony, adjacent to the Kent Concert Hall.

 

For more information, contact Tyler Anderson at tyler@johannus-lds.com or 435-881-6235.