YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT: RECITAL SHOWCASES AREA YOUTH

On Sunday, August 25th, eight young organists participated in the chapter’s “Pipe Organ Encounters: Young Artists Recital” at The Guardian Angel Cathedral on the Las Vegas Strip. More than 50 people attended the concert in support of these musicians.

Recitalists included Alyssa Tobler, Nebiyu Samuel, Alaina Backes, Claire Henriod, Sadie Williams, Brenna Schelin, Everett Minnick and Ashlyn Henriod. All of the organists are students of local organ teachers Elaine Hardy, Shireen Beaudry and Laurie Swain.

Each performer sat at the console of the cathedral’s 79-stop Allen organ to play hymns or pieces by Bach, Mendelesshohn and other composers.

“This is exciting for our community’s young organists. They get to play on one of the biggest instruments in the state and demonstrate what they have learned,” said SNCAGO Sub-Dean, cathedral organist, and CCSD music teacher William Freeman.

All but one of the recitalists are recipients of the Raymond J. Barnes Memorial Scholarship and have attended an AGO Pipe Organ Encounter, a week long summer camp surrounded around the pipe organ.

Following their performance, each organist addressed the crowd to describe their POE experiences and other impressions of the instrument.

“The POE in Seattle was a life changing experience for me. I’ve played the organ for two years and to be honest I didn’t love it. The POE taught me to love the pipe organ,” said recitalist Alyssa Tobler.

Special thanks to Father Bob Stoeckig, Guardian Angel Cathedral, the organists, their teachers and parents.