World-renowed organist bringing Bach, gospel to historic Elgin church May 8

Internationally acclaimed concert organist Alcée Chriss III will perform at First Congregational Church in Elgin on Friday, May 8.

Presented as part of the American Guild of Organists Fox Valley chapter’s annual meeting and gala dinner, the concert is open to the public.

Performing on the church’s historic Lancashire-Marshall/Berghaus pipe organ, Chriss will present a program including works by J.S. Bach, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Florence Price, Max Reger, as well as some of his own improvisations on American Gospel hymns.

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 256 E Chicago St. in downtown Elgin. A free-will offering is being taken. A reception will follow the concert.

A featured star in the 2019 PBS documentary “Pipe Dreams,” Chriss is an organist and keyboardist from Fort Worth, Texas. Winner of the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition and Firmin Swinnen Silver Medalist at the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, he is widely regarded as one of the leading young organists of our time.

Chriss has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and France. Recent and upcoming performances include the International Orgelsommer (Stuttgart, Germany), Stockholm City Hall (Sweden), Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Washington National Cathedral, John F. Kennedy Center, Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Francis Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton, and performances as concerto soloist in Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra with the Montreal Symphony, among others.

In October 2019, Chriss was awarded his Doctor of Music degree from McGill University, where he studied with Hans-Ola Ericsson. He previously studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received his master’s degree in historical keyboard and a bachelor’s degree in organ performance. At Oberlin, he studied organ with James David Christie and Olivier Latry, improvisation with Marie-Louise Langlais, and harpsichord and continuo playing with Webb Wiggins and Hank Knox.

In July 2019, Chriss was appointed university organist and artist-in-residence at Wesleyan University, where he teaches courses in organ and applied music. Chriss is also active as a church musician and guest lecturer, and he remains engaged with his lifelong love of gospel and jazz music. He is currently assistant organist at Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City, and serves on the editorial board of Vox Humana magazine. Chriss is represented exclusively by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.

The mission of the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of guild members.

Visit www.foxvalleyago.org for more information.