Author: Donna Ardizzoni

PRESS RELEASE: GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE CONCERT
TITLE: All-Bach Organ Concert by Joonho Park, New England debut
WHAT TO EXPECT: The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is pleased to present organist Joonho Park performing an all-Bach program in a progressive organ recital. The first half will be performed in the Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the 1893 Hutchings pipe organ, restored by world-renowned Gloucester organ builder Charles Fisk in 1962.

At the intermission, the audience will stroll next door for the second half of the concert in St. John’s Episcopal Church on the 1989 Fisk pipe-organ, the firm’s Opus 97. We are very grateful to H. Woody Brock, Lanesville resident, world-famous authority on economics, and Bach aficionado for being the sponsor of this event: the debut performance by Joonho Park in New England.

A reception for Joonho Park will follow the concert at St. John’s. For more information and advance tickets please visit http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

WHAT’S SPECIAL? This concert is a rare opportunity for Cape Ann residents to hear an internationally recognized young virtuoso performing on two Gloucester pipe organs of historic significance. The Meetinghouse organ was built by George Hutchings, builder of the organ in Boston’s Symphony Hall, and restored in Gloucester by Charles Fisk in 1962. The innovative St. John’s organ is the only new instrument commissioned from Fisk on Cape Ann, the firm’s Opus 97 completed in 1989. Although contrasting in many regards, both instruments feature mechanical (tracker) key action, a wide tonal palette for the performance of many eras of organ music, and exquisite craftsmanship.

The concert will include a wide sampling of Bach organ works including the Partita ‘Sei gegrüßet Jesu gütig’ , Chorale Prelude ‘An Wasserflüssen Babylon’, Trio Sonata in D-minor and the Great E-flat Prelude and Fugue (‘St. Anne’) demonstrating the expressive tonal architecture of these two distinguished pipe organs.

WHEN: Saturday, April 22nd 2017, 7:30pm

WHERE: The first half of the concert will be performed in the historic 1806 Gloucester Meetinghouse (home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church), corner of Church & Middle Street with parking on the green. Persons needing an elevator may enter from the 10 Church Street side entrance. The second half of the concert will be performed next door at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

ADMISSION (at the door or on-line at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org):
$20 General
$15 College Students & Seniors (65+)
Under 17 free

THE PERFORMER: Joonho Park’s numerous awards from competitions include the first prize and the Bach special prize at the ‘International Organ Competition of Graz’ in Austria (2006), second prize and the Mozart special prize at the ‘International Organ Competition of St. Maurice’ in Switzerland (2007), third prize and the audience prize at the ‘International Organ Competition of Musashino-Tokyo’ in Japan (2008), first prize at the ‘International Organ Competition of Nuremberg’ in Germany (2009), first prize at the ‘Dublin International Organ Competition’ in Ireland (2011), the second prize at the Grand Prix de Chartres in France (2012) and most recently the second prize at the ‘Arp-Schnitger international organ competition in Bremen’ (2014).

To mention a few his important international performing experiences: solo recitals at ‘Bachwoche Ansbach’; Lorenzkirche in Nuremberg; Marktkirche in Halle/Saale; Konstantin-Basilika in Trier in Germany; at the Westminster Cathedral; Saint John’s Smith Square; John Hill memorial concert series in St. Lawrence Jewry in London; Saint Albans International Organ Festival; King’s College in Cambridge; Magdalen College in Oxford in United Kingdom; and at the summer organ concert series of Galway Cathedral.

Organist Joonho Park was born in 1985, in Seoul, South Korea where he began his musical studies. He is currently on the organ faculty of the University of Texas at Austin and organist at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which has purchased Fisk Opus 46 (formerly in The Memorial Church at Harvard University) and is building a new sanctuary in the 12th century Romanesque style from limestone quarried nearby.

SPONSORSHIP: This progressive organ concert is made possible through the generosity of H. Woody Brock. If you would like to be a sponsor in support of a future Gloucester Meetinghouse event please see our website for details: http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

AFTERWARDS: There will be a reception at St. John’s after the performance.

MORE INFORMATION (not for publication)
EVENT CONTACT:
Charles Nazarian, president
Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation
10 Church Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-821-5291
chasnaz@gmail.com
http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org