THE ROSALES/PARSONS ORGAN
DEDICATION EVENTS
KEN COWAN
Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 4:00pm
Reserved Seating
Celebrate the dedication of the new Rosales/Parsons Pipe Organ at St. James by-the-Sea. This first recital in the dedication series will be presented by one of North America’s finest concert organists, Ken Cowan, and followed by a gala reception. Be the first to hear this amazing, brand-new instrument!
Praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, Cowan maintains a rigorous performing schedule which takes him to major concert venues and churches in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
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Recent feature performances have included appearances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa California, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Spivey Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as concerts in Germany and Korea. In addition, Mr. Cowan has been a featured artist in recent years at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists held in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, has performed at many regional conventions of the AGO, and has been featured at several conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He currently serves on the keyboard faculty at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas.
CHORAL EVENSONG AND RECITAL
BY CAROLINE ROBINSON
Sunday, January 14, 2024
4:00pm Choral Evensong | 5:00pm Recital
Free Admission
Choral Evensong in an Anglican tradition is a magnificent act of choral worship. Drawn almost entirely from the Bible, its purpose is to proclaim the wonderful works of God and evoke from the worshiper a response of praise and prayer. This service will be offered by the Schola Cantorum of St. James by-the-Sea, featuring works by Stanford, Bairstow, and Finzi.
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Concert organist Dr. Caroline Robinson has performed at many distinguished venues across the U.S.A and abroad. She currently holds the post of Organist and Associate Choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, GA. There, under the direction of Canon Dale Adelmann, she shares organ playing and accompanying responsibilities with Artist-in-Residence Jack Mitchener, and she leads the RSCM-based Chorister program. She is also an active continuo player with early music ensembles, having performed at the Rochester Early Music Festival, San Francisco’s American Bach Soloists Academy, and now regularly with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.
LENTEN CAROL SERVICE AND
RECITAL BY RAUL PRIETO RAMIREZ
Sunday, March 10, 2024
4:00pm Lenten Carols Service | 5:00pm Recital
Free Admission
St. James' Artist-in-Residence, Bruce Neswick, leads a service of readings and music for Lent with the Choirs of St. James by-the-Sea and All Souls', Point Loma. In the style of St. John's College, Cambridge, this service journeys through Jesus' passion and crucifixion with many evocative selections of choral and organ music composed over the centuries.
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Following the service, Raúl Prieto Ramírez, San Diego’s Civic Organist and Artistic Director of the Spreckels Organ, and St. James' good friend, will perform a special recital. Raúl's performances have been described with words such as “sizzling”, iconoclastic,” and “transcendent.” Performing a wide-ranging classical and popular repertoire on the pipe organ with the flair and bravado of a matador, this Spanish master has a riveting way of entertaining general audiences of young and old, music experts and casual listeners, like remarkably few others.
CHORAL EVENSONG AND RECITAL
BY BRUCE NESWICK
Sunday, May 12, 2024
4:00pm Choral Evensong | 5:00pm Recital
Free Admission
The inaugural year of events for the Rosales/Parsons Organ culminates with Choral Evensong with the Choir of St. James by-the-Sea directed by Alex Benestelli, followed by a performance by Bruce Neswick. The Choir will sing works by Hancock, Hogan, and Howells, and the organ recital will include a new piece by Texu Kim, specially commissioned for the dedication of the Rosales/Parsons Organ.
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Bruce Neswick enjoys immense popularity and is in tremendous demand throughout the country as organist, improviser, choral conductor and trainer, commissioned composer, and hymn festival leader. He is a musician whose playing vibrates with energy, is full of radiant color, and always expertly crafted. Mr. Neswick holds the Fellowship degree from the Royal School of Church Music and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2016 by the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. He is Artist-in-Residence at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, CA.
