Festival of Original Organ Compositions of the 21st Century

On Friday, June 10, 2011, the will host some of Connecticut’s finest organists and composers in an evening of “Original Organ Compositions of the 21st Century.” The event is sponsored by Mr. Yves Venne, organist and artistic/adult music ministry director of the church, which is located at 799 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. The 7 p.m. concert is free and open to all interested area music supporters.  

Mr. Venne will perform his organ composition, "Sonata for the End of Time," originally commissioned for a festival of new organ music following his graduation from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music in 1989. In an effort to revive this original music festival, Mr. Venne has contacted several gifted organists/composers and a new talented composer from Hartt School of Music. Featured performers include the world renowned organist/composer Daniel Campolieta, scholar/concertist Robert Fertitta, and published composer Peter Niedmann. Joining the ensemble is organist/composer Evan Cogswell from Hartt. In addition to Mr.Venne, Daniel Kehoe, composer and carillonneur in residence at the Simsbury United Methodist Church, will also perform. Compositions played will include music written by published composer Dorn Younger, a Simsbury resident and member of the Simsbury United Methodist Church.

Mr. Venne states, “This will be a musical evening to remember. The organ at SUMC is very unique, and its pipe setting chambers and its disposition of pipes offer an innovative architectural sound dimension to be enjoyed from the first note.”

All composers will perform their own original works and will be available for a one-on-one “Meet the Composer” session following the concert.  At the conclusion of the event, a reception for artists and participants will be held in the church's Wesley Hall.