Young Organ Virtuoso to Perform as a part of the Holy Cross Chapel Artists Series

WORCESTER, Mass. – Joseph Ripka, a young organ virtuoso, will perform on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. in the St. Joseph Memorial Chapel at the College of the Holy Cross. The performance, which is handicap-accessible, is free and open to the public.

As part of the Holy Cross Chapel Artists Series, Ripka’s performance will feature a variety of notable pieces including works from Dieterich Buxtehude, J S. Bach, Paul Hindemith, Marcel Dupre and Thierry Escaich.

Ripka has earned national and international recognition as one of today’s most promising young organ talents. Ripka was the first prize winner of the 2008 San Marino/Elizabeth Elftman National Organ Competition and the Fort Wayne National Organ Competition. Most recently he competed in the 2008 Dublin International Organ Competition and was awarded the first prize at the Dublin competition by a unanimous decision of all five international jurors. He has received invitations to perform in many of the finest organ venues in Europe including London’s St. Paul Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral, Kings College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, St. Sulpice in Paris , the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and St. Bavokerk in Haarlem, the Netherlands. Ripka has performed numerous solo organ recitals throughout the U.S. and has been a featured organist on National Public Radio’s Pipedreams several times. This past year, he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, Benjamin Zander, and Alan Gilbert.

The 2009-10 season of the Chapel Artists Series marks the 25th anniversary of the installation and dedication of the Taylor & Boody organ in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel and James David Christie’s 25th year as Distinguished Artist in Residence at the College.

For more information about this performance or about the Chapel Artists Series, please call the music department at (508) 793-2296, or visit the department’s Web site.