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 pipe organ! You’ll hear a keynote address given by Dr. Peter Latona, Director of Music for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, D.C.); enjoy breakout sessions with some of New York’s finest Catholic musicians; and enjoy concert given by Dr. Latona on St. Joseph’s Seminary’s 41-rank Casavant Frères pipe organ. Ticket price includes lunch.

Tickets: $45 (full day with lunch) /$25 (student full day – includes lunch)/ $20 (2:15pm concert only)

OrganFest! Schedule

9:00 Keynote

Dr. Peter Latona: Keynote: “For the Love of God: What Makes Music Suitable for Worship”

10:15 Breakout I

Session A: Intro to Improvisation (Clara Gerdes Bartz)

Session B: Piccolos, Pistons, and Principals – Intro to Registration (Fr. George Hafemann)

11:15 Breakout II

Session A: Fundraising for an Organ Project (Mark Pacoe and Joseph Vitacco)

Session B: Spontaneous Beauty: Creating Music for the Liturgy (Peter Latona)

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Breakout III

Session A: The Organ in Spanish-Language Liturgies (Sarah Jane Starcher Germani and Fr. Richard Marrano)

Session B: Bourdons, Blowers, Blunders and Bloopers – Issues in Organ Maintenance and Restoration (Jared Lamenzo and Fr. George Hafemann)

2:15 Recital – with Dr. Peter Latona

3:00 Departure