Weekend Arts Preview: Grieg Piano Concerto and Anglican Vespers

This weekend features two of the Gustavus Adolphus College large touring ensembles in concert. The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra performs in the afternoon Sunday with the 2018 High School Concerto/Aria Competition winner, Kirill Nazarov. The Gustavus Choir follows with an evening vespers service with Chad Winterfeldt on organ. Both performances are free and open to the public.

Gustavus Symphony Orchestra
Featuring the 2018 High School Concerto/Aria Competition Winner
1:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 25
Björling Recital Hall

The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra presents 2018 High School Concerto/Aria Competition winner, Kirill Nazarov in concert. Nazarov, a sophomore at Shattuck-St. Mary’s Pre-Conservatory Center of Excellence, will perform the first movement of the Grieg Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor.

Nazarov is the second winner of the annual competition, held at Gustavus each fall. In addition to a performance with the orchestra, Nazarov and the other four finalists receive a free lesson with Gustavus faculty and a guaranteed music scholarship, should they choose to attend Gustavus in the future. A total of 18 musicians competed for the chance to perform this year, the finalists were: Laura Aldana (cello), Catherine Carson (violin), Maria Chirinos (violin) and Harrison Oh (cello) all of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School.

In addition to the Grieg, the orchestra will also perform César Franck’s Symphony in D Minor  and the ever popular Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. This concert will be livestreamed.

Vespers in the Anglican Tradition
Featuring the Gustavus Choir and Chad Winterfeldt, Organ
7:30 p.m.
Christ Chapel

The Anglican choral evensong is taken from the Book of Common Prayer and features choral music as a centerpiece of the service. The choral tradition in the Anglican church is significant and this evening service takes place regularly in collegiate churches across the country. The Gustavus Choir along with organist, Chad Winterfeldt, will be featured throughout the evening.  Works include “Adagio in E Major” by Frank Bridge, “O Savior of the World” from Herbert Howells’ Requiem, and “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace” by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. The service will be livestreamed.