Friends of the Erben Organ

Missouri State Chorale Concert
2019-05-23 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Missouri State University Chorale – Biography
The Missouri State University Chorale is the flagship choral ensemble at Missouri State University. Made up of a diverse group of people from a variety of backgrounds, this ensemble performs at an incredibly high level and enjoys an international reputation. This renowned ensemble has performed regularly at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, Missouri Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, and has toured through North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Recent highlights include invited performances for the National Collegiate Choral Organization, national and regional ACDA conferences, an 18-day concert tour of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, and performances at the China International Chorus Festival, the Yellow River International Chorus Festival (Lanzhou, China), and the International Folk Song Festival/IFCM World Voices Conference (Kaili, China). Recordings of the Missouri State University Chorale can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yabwkbk3.
Recently, this ensemble adopted the following mission: The Missouri State University Chorale seeks to inspire listeners through musical excellence and diverse repertoire. Through performances and personal interactions both domestic and abroad, we strive to build an atmosphere of unity and belonging among ensemble members and those we encounter.

Conductor Bio
Cameron F. LaBarr is director of choral studies at Missouri State University where he leads a comprehensive choral program including over 300 singers in eight choirs. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University and he earned a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. He has completed further study in choral music and conducting with Simon Carrington and Alice Parker. Choirs under his direction have been selected for performance at the Tennessee Music Education Association Conference, Tennessee ACDA Conference, Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, National Collegiate Choral Organization, National ACDA, Southwest ACDA, Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses National Seminar, the China International Chorus Festival and the IFCM World Voices Conference. Dr. LaBarr has worked as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, most recently presenting at the China International Chorus Festival (2016 and 2018). In 2019, Dr. LaBarr will serve on the jury panel for the 8th Bali International Choir Festival and will guest conduct the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival (Ireland).

Young New Yorkers' Chorus Mixed Ensemble presents "What If"
2019-06-02 15:30 - 16:30 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
What If: The Young New Yorkers’ Chorus Mixed Ensemble closes out the season with a declaration of the responsibility we have to create a better future through themes of hope, anxiety, dreams, curiosity, and love. Music by Whitacre, Stucky, Mulholland, and more will be featured!

Petits Cantors del Principat d'Andorra sing at the 7 PM Mass
2019-07-21 18:45 - 20:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Petits Cantors del Principat d’Andorra, the children’s choir of Andorra La Vella, will sing starting at 6:45 PM and during the 7 PM Mass. The choristers will sing a selection of sacred pieces.
Children’s Choir of Andorra “Petits Cantors del Principat d’Andorra” will be visiting New York from July 15 to 22, 2019.

This choir is formed by boys and girls ages 8 to 18 and is directed by Mrs. Catherine Metayer. The singers come from different official educational systems in Andorra: Andorran, Spanish and French, religious and secular and they receive and transmit the legacy of the European choral tradition.
Please enjoy a video of the choir below:

Visit their website

Erben Organ Days 2019: Renée Anne Louprette in Concert
2019-09-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Renée Anne Louprette, internationally acclaimed concert organist, will present an organ recital as part of the annual San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy. Suggested donation $15 to help raise funds for the 1868 Henry Erben Organ restoration. Erben Organ Days 2019 is a series of concerts and events highlighting our historic 1868 Henry Erben Organ.
Reserve seats now
Tickets will also be available at the door. For group sales, contact us at music@erbenorgan.org
Ms. Louprette will be playing both the 1868 Henry Erben and the 1859 Hall & Labagh organs in the Basilica, in a program that includes works by Italian composers for San Gennaro Festival. Click for full details and tickets.
1868 Henry Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh organs at the Basilica
Hailed by The New York Times as “splendid,” and “one of New York’s finest organists,” Renée Anne Louprette has established an international career as organ recitalist, conductor, and teacher. She is associated with a number of distinguished music programs in the New York City area, having served as Associate Director of Music at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, Associate Director of Music and the Arts at Trinity Wall Street, Organist and Associate Director at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, and Director of Music at the Church of Notre Dame.
Upon receipt of a Master of Music degree in conducting from Bard College in 2019, Ms. Louprette was appointed Assistant Professor of Music there. She continues as coordinator of the organ studio at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, where she has been University Organist since 2013. She is a former member of the organ faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, The Hartt School of the University of Hartford, and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.
As conductor, Ms. Louprette was selected as a fellow of the Mostly Modern Festival in 2019, premiering several new works with the New York-based American Modern Ensemble. She was co-conductor with Kent Tritle in the acclaimed U.S. premiere of John Tavener’s Requiem in 2009. In her over 20-year career as choral conductor, she has led performances by various professional choirs in the New York City area with members of The Orchestra Now, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the American Brass Quintet, among other ensembles.
An active freelance keyboardist, Ms. Louprette has performed with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Voices of Ascension, Clarion Music Society, American Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra Now, The Dessoff Choirs, New York Choral Society, Oratorio Society of New York, and Piffaro. In New York City she has appeared in Carnegie, Zankel, Avery Fisher, Alice Tully, and Merkin Halls, and Miller Theatre of Columbia University. In 2015 she collaborated with the Los Angeles Dance Project in a performance of Nico Muhly’s Moving Parts at Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. The 2018-2019 season will feature Ms. Louprette’s debut with the American Brass Quintet, and continuing collaborations with Musica Viva NY under conductor Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, classical saxophonist Paul Cohen, and traditional Irish musician Ivan Goff, including a recital at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles featuring the world premiere of a new work for uilleann pipes and organ by Eve Beglarian, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Renée Anne Louprette has performed throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, including at Westminster Abbey and the Temple Church in London, St. Giles Cathedral Edinburgh and Dunblane Cathedral (Scotland), Galway Cathedral and Dún Laoghaire (Ireland). In Fall 2018, she made her solo debuts at the Royal Festival Hall in London and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Additional European festival appearances include Magadino, Switzerland; In Tempore Organi, Italy; Ghent and Hasselt, Belgium; Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Bordeaux Cathedral and Toulouse Les Orgues, France. She appeared as organ soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane, Australia, in a performance of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony broadcast live on ABC radio. She regularly performs at regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and has been featured at two national conventions: the 2010 Convention in Washington, D.C., and the 2014 Convention in Boston where she presented the world premiere of Pamela Decker’s Faneuil Hall.
Her recording of the “Great Eighteen Chorales” of J. S. Bach on the Metzler Organ in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, England, was named a classical music Critics’ Choice 2014 by The New York Times. In February 2018, she released a recording of 20th-century French organ repertoire – “Une voix française – A French Voice” – on the Acis Productions label to critical acclaim. Her upcoming recordings include Bach’s Clavier-Übung III on the Acis label, recorded on the Craighead-Saunders organ of Christ Church, Rochester, New York, and a collaborative recording of original compositions and arrangements of traditional Irish repertoire with Ivan Goff, recorded at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City.
Renée Anne Louprette holds a Master’s degree in conducting from Bard College Conservatory where she studied conducting with James Bagwell and composition with Joan Tower, and a Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude in piano performance and a Graduate Professional Diploma in organ performance from The Hartt School, University of Hartford. She was awarded a Premier Prix – mention très bien from the Conservatoire National de Région de Toulouse, France and a Diplôme Supérieur in organ performance from the Centre d’Études Supérieures de Musique et de Danse de Toulouse, studying with Michel Bouvard and Jan Willem Jansen and improvisation with Philippe Lefebvre. She completed additional studies in organ with Dame Gillian Weir, James David Christie, and Guy Bovet.
Renée Anne Louprette is represented in North America exclusively by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, LLC.
Reserve seats now
Tickets will also be available at the door. For group sales, contact us at music@erbenorgan.org

Suffolk and Nassau AGO Chapters visit Friends of the Erben Organ
2019-10-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Friends of the Erben Organ will host the Suffolk and Nassau Chapters of the American Guild of Organists for a demonstration of the organs at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and the Shrine Church of Most Precious Blood, with Jared Lamenzo, Basilica Organist and Music Director.

MUSIC, MODERNITY AND THE SACRED - A Catholic Composer in Conversation
2019-11-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
We’re delighted to welcome one of today’s most distinguished and prolific composers, Sir James MacMillan, as the next speaker for the Art of the Beautiful series.
http://www.catholicartistssociety.org
Please note the time and location for this event:
Reception at 4 PM. Archbishop Hughes Center, 32 Prince St. at Mott.
Lecture at 5 PM. Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott St. at Prince.
Sustaining members: Free
Non-members: donation at the door suggested
For more information: http://www.catholicartistssociety.org
Sir James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful composers and is also internationally active as a conductor. His musical language is flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European music.

OrganFest!
2019-11-23 09:00 - 15:00 | St. Joseph’s Seminary, 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers, NY, 10704, United States
Are you a church musician – or merely a fan of great organ music? Join us for a day dedicated to celebrating and enjoying the “king of instruments” – the organ! You’ll hear from Jared Lamenzo, director of music at the Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral; enjoy breakout sessions with some of New York’s finest Catholic musicians; have the chance to participate in a roundtable discussion with representatives of three of the world’s most renowned organ builders; and enjoy an “all-star” concert on the Seminary’s 41-rank Casavant Frères pipe organ.
This event is organized by Archdiocese of New York Office of Liturgy.
General admission (includes lunch) is $35. Tickets: http://nyliturgy.org/organfest

Candlelight Lessons and Carols
2019-12-01 18:00 - 19:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
December 1 Candlelight Lessons and Carols 6:00 PM – $20; Free with code CAROLS19
With the Basilica Schola, Basilica Voices, and the Basilica Hispanic Choir
Join us for our annual Advent celebration featuring favorite Advent carols and music selections featuring the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ.
Prepare for Christmas with a selection of favorite Advent carols, selections from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat, and more. The Basilica Schola is our adult choir, which will be joined by our children’s choir, Basilica Voices, and our Hispanic Choir. Seasonal organ music will be presented on the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben organ. Free with code CAROLS19. All are welcome.
Get Tickets here! Enter code CAROLS19 to receive free admission.
A free-will offering will be collected in support of the historic 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ at the Basilica.

An Amor Artis Holiday
2019-12-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Join Amor Artis for an immersive holiday music experience. Hear the chorus’s voices wrapped in the warm glow of cello, harp, alto sax, and English horn, in the sublime acoustic and lovely space at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. You’ll hear favorite holiday music spanning ten centuries, from medieval carols to lush contemporary arrangements. You’ll revel in the festive sound of trumpets and meditate to the mystery of ancient chant, leaving the concert full of the spirit of the season. Featuring the Met Opera’s David Heiss on cello and the one-of-a-kind Eddie Barbash on alto saxophone.
Tickets: http://www.amorartis.org/amor-artis-holiday-2019

Carols in the Organ Loft - 12/19/2019
2019-12-19 19:30 - 20:15 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM: Carols in the Organ Loft
Join us for an exclusive gathering in the loft of the historic 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, for festive seasonal carols and an organ demonstration. Each event is limited to only 30 people. Sing with the historic 19th-century sounds of the landmark 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, in the fantastic acoustic space of the Basilica, with its 200-year-long history of great music. See a magnificent American treasure, the Erben organ, up close and experience history come to life.
Please note: this event requires the ability to climb stairs.
>>GET TICKETS HERE
Can’t make it Thursday? Get tickets for Friday, December 20

Carols in the Organ Loft - 12/20/2019
2019-12-20 19:30 - 20:15 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
FRIDAY, December 20 at 7:30 PM: Carols in the Organ Loft
Join us for an exclusive gathering in the loft of the historic 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, for festive seasonal carols and an organ demonstration. Each event is limited to only 30 people. Sing with the historic 19th-century sounds of the landmark 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, in the fantastic acoustic space of the Basilica, with its 200-year-long history of great music. See a magnificent American treasure, the Erben organ, up close and experience history come to life.
Please note: this event requires the ability to climb stairs.
>>GET TICKETS HERE
Can’t make it Friday? Get tickets for Thursday, December 19

Concert of Carols and Midnight Mass
2019-12-24 22:15 - 2019-12-25 00:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Join us on Christmas Eve at 10:15 PM for our spectacular Concert of Carols, which features some of New York’s finest instrumentalists and the Basilica Schola, as well as communal singing of favorite carols. The concert is followed by Mass, which ends at midnight.

Pedals, Pipes & Pizza!
2020-02-01 11:00 - 14:00 | All Saints Episcopal Church, 286 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, United States
The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter Presents:
PEDALS, PIPES & PIZZA!
Children and youth in grades 3-6 who have had some experience with the piano are invited to come hear, play and explore the pipe organ. FREE!
Friends of the Erben Organ will be on hand with our custom Orgelkids kit and children will build a working miniature pipe organ during this workshop.
Saturday, February 1st, 2020, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
All Saints Episcopal Church, 286 7th Ave. at 7th St.,
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Reserve a place with an email message to dean@brooklynago.org
See more photos from a previous Pedals, Pipes and Pizza! event here

LHS Chamber Singers perform at the Basilica
2020-03-06 15:30 - 16:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
We look forward to welcoming the LHS Chamber Singers, while they are in town to sing at Carnegie Hall​! This is a free concert for the community. Stop by and enjoy great choral music on a Friday afternoon. On their visit with Friends of the Erben Organ, the choristers will also enjoy a tour of the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ at the Basilica.
The LHS Chamber Singers is Logan High School’s premier vocal ensemble, conducted by John M. McClain and Gretchen R. Weber, as the assistant director and collaborative pianist. Hailing from the beautiful Hocking Hills in Southeastern Ohio, the Chamber Singers have been recognized for their outstanding musicianship at local, state, and national levels. The Chamber Singers were selected to be a part of the inaugural Music For All National Choir Festival in Indianapolis, as one of only 13 choirs in the United States, were chosen to perform the opening concert for the Ohio Choral Directors Association Summer Conference of 2019 at Otterbein University, and, most recently, were named the Most Spirited Choir in America by Varsity Brands, for which they appeared on Good Day Columbus in May. In March, they have been invited to join the Capital University Chapel Choir, as well as two other high school choirs, on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City, under the direction of Dr. Lynda Hasseler.
See a video of the LHS Chamber Singers:

Amor Artis presents Handel's Solomon
2020-03-08 15:30 - 18:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Seize a rare opportunity to hear Handel’s majestic oratorio, Solomon. Alex Ross of The New Yorker deemed Act III “Handel’s genius at its vertiginous height . . . [a] temple of sound, which has withstood the centuries and shines brighter than ever.” Led by the “exquisite” (Opera News) singing of Sarah Nelson Craft in the title role, Amor Artis, in collaboration with our friends, the “truly excellent” (New York Times) dynamos of New York Baroque, Inc., will present this famous story of wisdom and judgment, which features some of Handel’s grandest choruses. Join us at the beautiful space at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral.
Tickets: http://www.amorartis.org/solomon

Henry Erben's 220th Birthday Loft Party
2020-03-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Preeminent New York organ builder Henry Erben’s 220th birthday is March 10th! We invite everyone to come up to the organ loft for a little celebration. Come see Henry Erben’s 1868 masterpiece, an American historic treasure, up close!
Take a photo at the console! Play something if you are a pianist or an organist! Pull a stop or press a key! Do an Erben selfie!? Enjoy great music, revelry, birthday cake and festive punch with us as we celebrate in the organ loft.
Tickets: Get them here
Enter the Basilica at the Mott Street entrance: 261 Mott Street.
* This event requires the ability to climb stairs.
Photos from last year’s party in the loft

Worldwide Make Music Day 2020
2020-06-21 14:30 - 17:00 | NY
Erben Organ goes ONLINE for Worldwide Make Music Day 2020
This will be the third consecutive year Friends of the Erben Organ will participate in the worldwide Make Music Day on June 21, 2020. For the last two years, the Erben was the only pipe organ featured in performances in New York City. This year’s festival is all online due to the Coronavirus pandemic, however the organizers created a fantastic program of live performances, engaging music lessons and more, to reach an even greater audience. All events are FREE – we hope you enjoy them and see you online! We will also officially kick off our Erben Organ Days 2020 series and Pedals, Pipes & Peals music camp on this day.
FREO will participate in two live-streamed events on June 21, 2020:
6/21/2020 at 2:30 PM:
Organ and Saxophone Recital Live-Stream
A live-streamed organ and saxophone recital, featuring Jared Lamenzo and Eddie Barbash. Eddie Barbash plays American roots music on alto saxophone. He is a founding member of Jon Batiste Stay Human, the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Register to Watch Recital Live-Stream

6/21/2020 at 4:00 PM:
Live Organ Lesson and Demonstration of the Erben
In this class, we will explore the different colors of the pipe organ on the bench, talk about how organs are built, and have an exclusive look inside the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, the size of a NYC townhouse! Basilica organist and music director Jared Lamenzo will introduce a piano student to the pipe organ in real-time, from the organ loft of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Little Italy.
Register to Watch Organ Lesson Live-Stream

Erben Organ Days 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC
Contributors:
LMCC
New York State Council on the Arts
See last year’s Make Music New York event: Make Music New York 2019 recital: Jared Lamenzo, organ and Lavinia Pavlish, violin

Organ and Trumpet Concert - Erben Organ Days 2020
2020-08-02 14:30 - 15:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Welcome to our next Erben Organ Days 2020 live-stream, from the organ loft of the great 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Little Italy!
Featuring Basilica Organist and Music Director, Jared Lamenzo, and Trumpet player Angela Gosse.
The afternoon’s program will include works of Viviani, Morricone, Levitzki, Gervais, Donaudy and Teilman.
A link to a YouTube live-stream event will be provided upon free registration.
Register Here!
About the Artists:
Jared Lamenzo is the Organist and Director of Music at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. A champion of the unique Erben pipe organ at the Basilica, Jared is also a Director at Friends of the Erben Organ, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to restoration, preservation and presentation of the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ and building a community of arts and music around it.
Angela Gosse is an orchestral and chamber musician and a frequent soloist. She is an extra musician at the Metropolitan Opera, plays with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the American Symphony, Hartford Symphony, and American Ballet Theatre. Angela enjoys working with The Orchestra Now at Bard College and has done recent projects with Orchestra Moderne NYC and the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York. She is thrilled to be playing at Old St. Pat’s with Jared for this wonderful program!

Erben Organ Days 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.
Contributors:
LMCC
New York State Council on the Arts

Erben Organ Days 2020: Recital by Dr. Michał Szostak, Poland
2020-09-12 19:30 - 20:30 | Online Event
Join us for a special recital premiere by a renowned Polish concert organist, Dr. Michał Szostak. The program, played on his home instrument in Warsaw, Poland, celebrates J.S. Bach’s 335th birthday year. A gifted improviser, Dr. Szostak will also take various musical subjects and develop them in different musical styles. The recital ends with the famous Polonaise from the movie “Pan Tadeusz” by Wojciech Kilar (1932–2013): a musical tribute to Poland for all our friends.
Tickets: $20
About the Artist:
Michał Szostak studied organ playing as part of an artistic internship at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński’s class, as well as organ improvisation at the Pontificio Istituto Ambrosiano di Musica Sacra in Milan, Italy in Maestro Davide Paleari’s class. In February 2019, he obtained an academic degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the field of “Instrumental Studies” in discipline of “Organ Performance” based on the dissertation of “Organ, as a source of inspiration in the art of improvisation and performance practice” written under the direction of Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński. He regularly participates in master classes on organ works and liturgical music. He has performed in Europe, North America and Africa: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA. His articles have appeared in Britain’s “The Organ”, and America’s “The Diapason” and “The Vox Humana”. Since 2013 he has been a member of The Royal College of Organists, England.
A message from Dr. Szostak:
In planning my international concert tours I always look for interesting instruments. I want to be able to feel the whisper of the past and the shadow of people and their cultural achievements. Even the deepest research and the greatest books are not able to give us as much as we can take from real contact with the historical artefacts. My first contact with Erben organ in NYC was via Internet, but from the first moment I saw a beautiful example of my searching goals: a magnificent organ in beautiful building – with great history in each detail. When I read about the actions which are focused on restoring this beautiful machine with soul, I wanted to help in this uneasy process. I know – from the other perspective – how hard it is to gain attention and funds on projects like this. I hope that together we can put a small brick in this huge project and be part of a community of people who are sensitive for the most valuable cultural works like the Erben organ.
Polish:
Planując moje miedzynarodowe koncerty, zawsze poszukuję interesujących instrumentów. O ile to możliwe, chcę móc poczuć szept przeszłości i zobaczyć cień minionych pokoleń i ich kulturowych osiągnięć. Mój pierwszy kontakt z organami Erbena w NYC nastąpił dzięki Internetowi, jednakże od pierwszej chwili zobaczyłem wspaniały przykład celu, jaki mi przyświeca: niesamowite organy w przepięknym wnętrzu – ze wspaniałą historią w każdym detalu. Kiedy przeczytałem o działaniach zmierzających do restauracji tej wspaniałej maszyny z duszą, chciałem pomóc w tym niełatwym procesie. Doskonale wiem – z innej perspektywy – jak trudno jest skupić uwagę otoczenia i zdobyć fundusze na taki projekt. Ufam, że wspólnie uda nam się dołożyć choćby małą cegiełkę w tym ogromnym projekcie i być częścią społeczności ludzi wrażliwych na najbardziej wartościowe dzieła kultury, jakim bez wątpienia są organy Erbena.
Video of Dr. Szostak performing:
Sortie Grand-Chœur, Louis-James-Alfred Lefébure-Wély (1817-1869), at the Bazylika Najświętszej Maryi Panny Licheńskiej (Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń), Licheń Stary, Poland

Erben Organ Days 2020 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC
Contributors:
LMCC
New York State Council on the Arts

Henry Erben's 221st Birthday and Book Release Party!
2021-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Online Event
On March 19 at 7 pm EST, join us on Zoom to celebrate 19th-century New York’s master organ builder Henry Erben’s 221st birthday and the release of historian Stephen Pinel’s 600+-page magnificent book on Erben’s work.
SIGN UP HERE

This year marks master organ builder Henry Erben’s 221st birthday, and just in time, historian Stephen Pinel celebrates the release of his book: The Work-List of Henry Erben: Organ Builder in Nineteenth-Century New York. Join us on Zoom for a conversation with Stephen Pinel, see up-close performance videos of our Erben, and avail yourself of our suggested Victorian cocktail recipes to make at home with your friends!
SIGN UP HERE

Live Historic Erben Pipe Organ Concerts for Make Music Day 2021
2021-06-21 13:30 - 17:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
On June 21, 2021, we will welcome visitors to hear live organ music for Make Music Day, a day of free concerts and musical experiences celebrated worldwide.
Friends of the Erben Organ will present a series of 30-minute organ concerts, followed by a youth organ building workshop using our Orgelkids kit.
> Get Free Tickets Here
Live Organ Concert Schedule:
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Stay tuned for special program details!

Organ Building Workshop for Kids:
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Register Here
This will be the fourth time we participate in Make Music Day. For the past three years, the Erben was the only New York City pipe organ heard in this event.
These events are free – donations to support our music programming are appreciated!
Photo: Jared Lamenzo, organ, and Lavinia Pavlish, violin, at last year’s Erben Organ Days performance

Kids Build a Pipe Organ!
2021-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Friends of the Erben Organ is proud to participate in the World Make Music Day 2021 with a series of live in-person events! Kids in grades 1 to 8 are invited to build a real pipe organ with us in the courtyard of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and have a look at the historic 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, a mechanical and musical marvel the size of a New York townhouse.
> Free Family Registration Here
Space is limited — Registration required. Masks are required. In case of inclement weather, we will move the organ building workshop indoors.

Video: former participant in our summer music education program, Alyssa Cheatham, describes her experience listening to the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ. In the background is the Orgelkids USA working pipe organ that Alyssa helped build. This tracker organ works on the same principle as the historic Erben organ, with mechanical connection between keys and pipes, and hand-pumped bellows.
Also don’t miss, earlier same day at 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm! FREE Live Pipe Organ Recitals.
Monday, June 21. Get tickets here.

Recital of Ukrainian composers by Lviv Organ Hall Soloist, Nadiya Velychko
2021-08-30 13:00 - 13:45 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
* In-Person Event * FREE pipe organ concert on the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ
Organist Nadiya Velychko from Lviv, Ukraine, presents a free lunchtime Erben concert. On the program: organ works by Ukrainian composers from the 19th and 20th centuries. Ms. Velychko is Organ Soloist at the Lviv Organ Hall, which houses the largest pipe organ in Ukraine.
This IN-PERSON event is FREE – donations to support our music programming are appreciated!
> FREE TICKETS AT THE LINK
CONCERT PROGRAM
M. Kolessa (1903 – 2006): Passacaglia
V. Goncharenko (b. 1959): Ciaccona
L. Dychko (b. 1939): Scherzo
A. Korchynskiy (b. 1959): The light of the faraway star
M. Surzhynski (1866 – 1924): Capriccio
M. Skoryk (1938 -2020): Melody
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Nadiya Velychko was born in Lviv, Ukraine. Since 2001, Nadiya has been working as concert organist at the House of Organ and Chamber Music in Lviv. She took part in numerous international music festivals in Ukraine and abroad. Nadiya Velychko is committed to the promotion of organ music. Her repertory includes works of all styles and periods, from Renaissance to modern music, accounting for over 30 concert programs she has presented to her audiences during the years of her performing career. As concert organist, Nadiya Velychko played in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Slovakia, and Denmark.
Erben Organ Days 2021 is our annual series of musical events highlighting the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ.

Charlie Chaplin's THE KID -- Live Improvised Organ Music by Peter Krasinski
2021-10-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
>> GET TICKETS HERE

*In-Person* Screening of the 1921 silent movie The Kid by Charlie Chaplin, with live improvised Erben organ accompaniment by Peter Krasinski

>> GET TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE EVENT
Friends of the Erben Organ presents an event not to be missed: a unique screening of THE KID by Charlie Chaplin. Celebrating the iconic film’s 100th anniversary, PETER KRASINSKI, acclaimed silent film accompanist, brings the film to life on the magnificent 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ. A landmark event, it is the first time the Erben has ever accompanied a film in its 153-year history.
In the era of silent films, musical accompaniment was improvised in real-time as the movie unfolded on the screen. No two film presentations were alike. This unique art from a bygone era lives on in the masterful improvisations of Peter Krasinski. Charlie Chaplin’s first feature-length comedic drama, THE KID, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Since it is all live, your presence and reactions are all part of this special experience.
Peter Krasinski will engage the full musical resources of the historic 1868 Henry Erben organ to help bring the movie to life. This is Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length feature, and it has secured a solid place in the pantheon of cinematic masterpieces. A century later, it still delights audiences of all ages.
BEFORE THE FILM: ORGAN OVERTURE, PROJECTED ON-SCREEN
Before the film starts, Peter Krasinski will play a short overture on the historic Henry Erben organ. This will be projected onto the large screen, so that the audience can enjoy seeing Mr. Krasinski at the Erben’s keyboards.
Please Note: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination required to access the event. Masks required. Please see the link for more info:

>> GET TICKETS HERE

ABOUT THE FILM
The story is timeless: a woman decides, after much self-struggle and soul searching, to abandon her baby in the backseat of an automobile with a hand-written note attached. Assuming that it would be taken care of by the wealthy owners of the home nearby, she has no idea that the baby, by way of a comedy of errors, would end up being brought up by a kind-hearted but simple tramp, played by Charlie Chaplin.As time progresses through the movie, the focus does not only stay on the child, (played brilliantly by Jackie Coogan) and his new parent, but also presents to us the birthfather of the child, follows the child’s mother and her career, and bestows a generous smattering of American characters offered through the lens of the day. As time progresses, the plot becomes increasingly involved, poignant, heart rending, hilarious and ridiculous–and always remains a human story.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that this film, exactly 100 years old this year, portrays an America full of diversity, hope, energy and tragedy: indeed, a presentation for our own time and our own thoughtful consideration. — Peter Krasinski
The film premiered on January 21, 2021 at Carnegie Hall in a benefit for the Children’s Fund of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. This film is considered one of Chaplin’s most personal and autobiographical works. Having suffered a personal tragedy when his own infant son died at three days old, Chaplin began to audition child actors for the role of the abandoned orphan ten days later. He met the 4-year-old Jackie Coogan by chance in the lobby of a theater where his father had performed, and spent over an hour talking to the boy. Soon Chaplin engaged the young Jackie to work on The Kid, and together they shaped the story of the lovable Tramp and the resourceful and loving orphan, living in the slums reminiscent of Chaplin’s own London childhood. “All children in some form or another have genius; the trick is to bring it out in them. With Jackie it was easy. There were a few basic rules to learn in pantomime and Jackie very soon mastered them. He could apply emotion to the action and action to the emotion, and could repeat it time and time again without losing the effect of spontaneity“, Chaplin remembered later. (via https://silentfilm.org/the-kid/)
Peter Krasinski at the Erben.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
PETER EDWIN KRASINSKI is broadly recognized as a motivating consultant for the pipe organ community, and as a conductor, organist and music educator, whose imaginative and energetic performances elevate and inform audiences. Well respected in both secular and sacred genres of his field, he has taught the enchantment of music to both public and private institutions in the greater Boston area for many years. His silent film performances have been hailed in the press as “a great marriage of movie and music.”
Specializing in the art of live silent film accompaniment, worldwide, some of his many appearances have included such venues as The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, (Nashville), Riverside Church, (NYC), Coral Ridge, (Fort Lauderdale), Irvine Auditorium, (University of Pennsylvania), Trinity Wall Street (NYC), Wanamaker’s-Macy’s Greek Hall (Philadelphia), St Joseph’s Cathedral (Hartford), Old South Church (Boston), National City Christian Church (Washington, DC), St Joseph’s Oratory (Montreal), The Kotzschmar Organ, (Portland), The Great Organ at Methuen Music Hall, and major concert halls in the cities of Yokohama, Fukui, Miyazaki and Kanazawa, Japan.
A multiple prize-winner, he is the recipient of the First Prize in Improvisation from the American Guild of Organists National Competition. A seasoned performer, he has played recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Paris), the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, (Los Angeles), Holy Name Cathedral, (Chicago) and Mikael Agricola Church, (Helsinki).
Past Dean of the Boston Chapter AGO, Mr. Krasinski is House Organist at the Providence Performing Arts Center and Organist at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Providence RI. He recently presented Master Classes at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. He holds both a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Organ Performance, and the Master of Sacred Music Degree from Boston University.
WWW.KRASINSKI.ORG

ABOUT THE ORGAN
This organ is one of New York City’s historic gems. It was constructed by the world-renowned New York City organbuilder Henry Erben (1800–1884). It is the only extant three-manual Erben organ, and is the only large, mid-19th-century Henry Erben pipe organ left in America, intact, in its original acoustic space. The organ has logged more than 150,000 liturgies and thousands of hours of rehearsals and concerts over 150 years. Support the Erben restoration
A masterpiece of musical and visual art, its nearly 2,500 pipes still speak with grandeur and eloquence. Henry Erben’s factory in the 1840s was one of the largest in the city. He shipped instruments to cathedrals and churches in Havana, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, and the new territories of the American West. Erben employed skilled European and American craftsmen, some of whom signed their names to the pipes they crafted.
Learn More
Photo of the 1868 Henry Erben organ: Joshua South, Sidewalk Productions.

December 16: Victorian Carol Sings with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs!
2021-12-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Sing Victorian carols with us, accompanied by the historic 1868 Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organs, & join us for eggnog afterwards!

Two evenings, Thursday and Friday, December 16 and 17 at 7 PM.

Tickets: http://bit.ly/erbencarols21
Join us for two festive evenings of seasonal organ music and Victorian carols! We will be featuring both the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organ, for a rare chance to hear original Victorian sounds in New York City. Cozy small-group atmosphere, with plenty of space to socially distance. Sing with the historic 19th-century sounds of the landmark 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ, in the fantastic acoustic space of the Basilica, with its 200-year-long history of great music. Enjoy festive refreshments after making music to delight all the senses.
One of the historic carols we will sing is “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, which was written in 1868, the same year as the Henry Erben organ was built!
Please Note: In accordance with Key to NYC, we will require attendees age 5 and older to show proof of at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Masks required. All event staff and performers are vaccinated. We will have sanitizer and face coverings available for those who need them.

Photo: 1868 Henry Erben (in the loft) and 1859 Hall & Labagh chancel organs at the Basilica, Photo by Joshua South/Sidewalk Productions.

Erben Organ Days 2021 is made possible in part with public funds from Restart NY supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.

December 17: Victorian Carol Sings with Two 19th Century Pipe Organs!
2021-12-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States

Free Concert: Bellarmine University Community Choir with the Erben Organ
2022-02-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Bellarmine University Community Choir from Louisville, KY, Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock, Director, presents a free choral concert. Conductor Dr. Stephen Black will also play the historic 1868 Erben organ during the concert.
>>> RSVP Here for Free Tickets
ABOUT THE CHOIR:
“This is a smaller, touring group of our Oratorio Society. The full ensemble performs mainly large masterworks with orchestra, but also breaks into smaller groups for a cappella sacred works and traveling. This group has performed in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Scotland. It is composed of faculty, staff, students, and members of the Bellarmine University community. We are educators, nurses, church musicians, and people from wildly varied backgrounds. We come together out of a love of singing and travel, and we are extremely pleased to be singing in the Big Apple.”

Henry Erben's 222nd Birthday Celebration!
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
This year marks master organ builder Henry Erben’s 222nd birthday!
Get Tickets Here >>>
This in-person celebration includes:

Festive concert with the premiere (on organ) of Carson Cooman’s A St. Patrick Silhouette
Baritone Paddy Connolly, from Ireland, will sing favorite Irish tunes with the organ, in anticipation of upcoming St. Patrick’s Day. Mr. Connolly has performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and with Riverdance Broadway and Riverdance The World Tour.
Up-close Erben organ tour: take a look inside our 154-year-old pneumatic computer
Other special guests to be announced
Delicious treats as always!

Portrait of Henry Erben courtesy of Charles Shailer Gosse and the Erben family.
Photo of the Erben facade by Joshua South / Sidewalk Productions.
Get Tickets Here >>>

Free Concert: Moon Area High School Honors Choir
2022-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Moon Area High School Honors Choir from Pittsburgh, PA, offers a free concert for the community. The choir is directed by Lisa Jaworowski.
About the choir:
“The Moon Area High School Honors Choir is from Pittsburgh, PA and is part of a very active Music Department. The 40 singers are auditioned and focus on all genres of vocal music. Many of our members study music privately and are part of various other ensembles at Moon Area HS. This performance is a highlight for 2021-2022 and we are thrilled to sing in this historical and beautiful space.”
Program:

Wade in the Water — arr. by Burroughs
O Magnum Mysterium — Lauridsen
Sing, my Child —Quartel
Ubi Caritas — Trotta
Even when He is Silent – Arnesen
I Can See Clearly — arr. Nickel

An Erben Benefit Concert for Ukraine
2022-04-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, 261 Mott Street, New York, NY, 10012, United States
Sunday, April 10, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Benefit Concert for Ukraine
Presented by Friends of the Erben Organ
>>> GET TICKETS HERE
Beginning with the 1826 Oratorio that benefitted the orphanage across the street, music has been used to raise awareness and aid others in need. In that spirit, please join us for a special benefit concert for Ukraine. Proceeds will be donated to CARE, an international non-profit which provides immediate aid to those affected by the Ukraine Crisis.
Program:
3 PM: Loreto Aramendi, Titular Organist of the Basilica in San Sebastián, Spain, will be performing an Erben recital. Program includes music by Bach, Satie, and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
Loreto Aramendi, Titular Organist of the Basilica of San Sebastian, Spain
4 PM: A special performance, with members of FREO’s musical community, of Gaetano Donizetti’s Miserere in G Minor for choir and chamber orchestra, Franz Schubert’s Stabat Mater D 175, Melody for Strings by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, and other works.
>>> GET TICKETS HERE
