Great Lakes Duo to perform at Wheaton College March 14

On Thursday, March 14, the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music will present an alumni organ recital featuring the Great Lakes Duo, an organ-trumpet duo, performing on the new Taylor & Boody tracker pipe organ.

Both artists are Wheaton College Conservatory graduates, with organist Rhonda Sider Edgington studying with Edward Zimmerman, and trumpeter Brian Reichenbach with Terry Schwartz. Both artists have performed concerts throughout the U.S., Europe, and beyond, receiving rave reviews.

The collaboration between organist Rhonda Sider Edgington and trumpeter Brian Reichenbach dates back nearly two decades to the Chicago area when they began exploring music that went beyond the typical baroque transcription.

When Edgington settled in Michigan several years later following a Fulbright Scholarship in Germany they renewed their duo, this time working across the Great Lake of Michigan.

Since then, they have performed together at churches and universities across several states including Memorial Church at Harvard University, Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, First United Church of Oak Park, St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo, and Park Cities Baptist in Dallas, as well as Middle Tennessee State, Olivet Nazarene, and Calvin Universities.

The Great Lakes Duo enjoys bringing new pieces to new audiences and have commissioned composers including Brenda Portman, Stephen Jenkins, Hina Sakamoto, and Dorothy Gates.

Their album, titled, “Music for Trumpet & Organ in the 21st Century,” features a number of works that have never been recorded before.

This free concert is part of the Lester W. Groom Endowment Organ Series.

The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Armerding Center for Music and the Arts, which is located at 520 E. Kenilworth Ave. on Wheaton's campus. For information, call the Conservatory of Music at (630) 752-5099.