July 28, 2017 at 5:02 p.m.
Acclaimed organist to perform concert to benefit NATH
Acclaimed organist to perform concert to benefit NATH
The concert will be held at the Rhinelander church, 135 East Larch Street,
There is no admission charge, however a free-will offering will be dedicated to NATH, a non-profit organization that operates a homeless shelter located on Frederick Street in Rhinelander supported by a coalition of area churches, organizers said in a press release.
"A graduate of Juilliard School where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees, Ms. Chen is also the 2009 recipient of the Lili Boulanger Memorial Award," the release states. "She is also the winner of the 2005 Augustana/Reuter National Organ Competition. A native of San Diego Chen moved to Juilliard and New York at age 17, just shortly before Sept. 11, 2011."
"It affected everyone," she told SouthFlorida.com. "You had to really dig deep in your soul and think about what you're doing and why. In some ways, it girded up the arts community to say that beauty and music and art in general allows us to express our deepest emotions, whether they are painful or joyful."
According to the release, Chen has electrified audiences in Europe, Australia, and Asia, at venues such as Singapore's Esplanade, Hong Kong's Cultural Centre and Kishinev's National Organ Hall.
She has also recorded several albums: "Live at Heinz Chapel" at the 2005 Convention of the American Institute of Organ Builders, "Reveries" in 2011 at Bethel University, and "Eastern Treasures" in 2010 with violinist Lewis Wong.
Lori Hunter, music director and organist at First Congregational UCC Eagle River, reflected on Chen's mastery.
"While listening and watching Chelsea Chen playing her 'Taiwanese Suite' or her arrangement of 'Super Mario Fantasia' her gracefulness on the bench is mesmerizing," Hunter said. "Her movements are fluid, her intensity is visible and you are completely absorbed in her choice of voicing, harmonies and pure joy of music."
Since 2014, Chen has been Artist-in-Residence at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She does split her time with organist duties at Emmanuel Presbyterian church in Manhattan, according to the release. Seth Carlson of Eagle River and Rockford, Ill. was named assistant organist to Chen at Coal Ridge Presbyterian.
Carlson has been instrumental in arranging for the Chelsea Chen concert, which she is making as part of the a swing through the northern part of the United States. Carlson received his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso in Indiana and his master's degree in music education at the University of Miami.
The Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church houses Florida's largest pipe organ designed by Organist Emeritus Diane Bish.
"On the world stage, Ms. Chen has soloed with orchestras including the Wuhan Philharmonic in China, the Jakarta Sinfonia in Indonesia and the Juilliard Percussion Orchestra in Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall," the release states. "She has performed under the baton of eminent conductors including Jahja Ling, JoAnn Falletta and Victor Yampolsky. She has championed contemporary works by esteemed composers Ola Gjeilo and Paul Desenne. Chen's concert at the Rhinelander UCC will demonstrate her variety. The public is enthusiastically invited to this free concert celebrating, in part, the two manual Casavant pipe organ installed in 1996."
"We are particularly thrilled to have another way of combining the arts and NATH in the Northwoods," commented a member of the committee.
Additional information can be obtained by calling the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Rhinelander or Marilyn Norden, organist and accompanist there.
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