October 17, 2014
SVSU recital to feature debut of university's virtual pipe organ
Several musicians in the Saginaw Valley State University community will perform in a virtual pipe organ recital Tuesday, Oct. 21 in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The 7:30 p.m. recital will feature SVSU's new Hauptwerk virtual pipe organ; it is free and open to the public.
Performers include Carl Angelo, Anna Leppert-Largent, Gregory Largent, Jason Maurer, Nicholas Schmelter and Kevin Simons.
The program includes music by German composer J.S. Bach, English composer Percy Whitlock and American composer Dudley Buck.
A virtual pipe organ uses high-quality pipe recordings along with Hauptwerk computer software. The recorded sounds are replayed as the organist plays.
Angelo, artist in piano and organ at SVSU, is the winner of the 1987 American Guild of Organists Young Artists Competition in Indianapolis. He has worked as a soloist and collaborative musician across the United States and as the organist at First Presbyterian Church of Flint.
Leppert-Largent, an adjunct instructor in music at SVSU, is the director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Bay City. She has been with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra for 11 years where she is production manager and director of education.
Largent, an adjunct instructor at SVSU, is the director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Saginaw. He is organist and choirmaster for the church and oversees the acclaimed Concerts at First Presbyterian Saginaw series.
Maurer, a staff accompanist at SVSU, accompanies vocal music majors for their studio lessons, recitals and juries. He is an organist and pianist at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Saginaw and Christ Lutheran Church in Reese.
Schmelter serves as minister of music at First Congregational Church in Saginaw. He is the dean of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Simons is an assistant professor of music at SVSU and conducts the Cardinal Singers and Concert Choir. He is the director of music and an organist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Saginaw.