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This evening’s performance and special ticket price for all, thanks to our generous underwriters - The Ahmanson Foundation.

As the Grand Finale to the 2022 – 2023 Year of Hazel, Paul Jacobs joins the Pacific Symphony & Chorale on an special evening program including the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Fiat Lux “Let There Be Light”. Leading Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan has been hailed by The New York Times as “ceaselessly inventive, evocative and penetrating.” This major commission, entitled Fiat Lux (“Let There Be Light”), utilizes a text by Dana Gioia, the internationally acclaimed poet, California poet laureate and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Carl St. Clair directs the performance, which opens with thrilling works for organ and orchestra featuring soloist Paul Jacobs, the only GRAMMY-Award-winning organist, playing the Hazel Wright Organ.

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Come hear the next generation of organists as Christ Cathedral’s own Organ Scholars take the stage and perform on the famed Hazel Wright Organ. These young organists, all students of Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry David Ball, are nationally recognized for their musical achievement. Enjoy their incredible music making and celebrate that the Hazel Wright Organ is already inspiring the future of organ and sacred music!

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Juilliard-trained organist David Ball serves as Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry at Christ Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange, California (formerly the Crystal Cathedral). David is a recognized and well-lauded young performer—The New York Times declared his appearance in Juilliard’s FOCUS! Festival “a rousing performance,” and as a winner of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists, David performed as a Rising Star at the 2016 National AGO Convention in Houston where he "used the organ evocatively... displayed a wide palette of colors in his artistic registration and... brought Mozart's K. 608 to a thrilling close, earning an enthusiastic response from the audience." (The American Organist) In recognition of his accomplishments, David was named one of The Diapason’s 2017 Class of 20 under 30, a peer-selected group of young people at the forefront of the organ field.

As Christ Cathedral Organist, David is the primary steward of a variety of instruments, principally the renowned Hazel Wright Organ. His musical contributions underpin the Cathedral's vast array of weekly services and events–following in the footsteps of Fred Swann, David plays, conducts the choirs, and supports the parish’s diverse congregation, all from Hazel’s 5-manual console. Additionally, David’s role involves training and mentorship of the next generation of sacred musicians and organists. His current and former students have gone on to hold prominent positions and have been accepted to prestigious programs and conservatories, including The Juilliard School.

- Biography courtesy of Dr. Paula Harper

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Emma Whitten is an accomplished organist specializing in early Baroque and contemporary repertoire. She performs across the United States and internationally, captivating audiences and introducing the organ to new listeners. Her programs are engaging and diverse, drawing from an extensive repertoire spanning eight centuries of organ music.

Dr. Whitten serves as Associate Organist at Christ Cathedral, where she plays for major liturgies at the Cathedral and accompanies the Diocesan Choir. In celebration of the Dedication Year of the newly-restored Hazel Wright Organ, Emma is recording her debut album, “Hazel Is Back!” to be released on Gothic Records. Emma also acts as Music Coordinator at Church of the Immaculate Conception in San Diego, and she maintains a private teaching studio in Oceanside, California. In Fall 2022, Dr. Whitten joins the faculty of Concordia University Irvine as Adjunct Professor of Organ and Church Music and Interim University Organist.

Notable performance venues and festivals include the Dedication Year of the Hazel Wright Organ, the Los Angeles Presidents' Day Organ Festival, St. Paul's Cathedral (San Diego, CA), Catalina Organ Festival (Tucson, AZ), and Saints Simon & Jude Cathedral (Phoenix, AZ). Internationally, Emma has performed on historic organs in Germany, Spain, Colombia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Emma holds degrees in organ performance from the University of Notre Dame (2009), University of Kansas (2011), and Arizona State University (2014), where she received her D.M.A. studying with Kimberly Marshall.

Emma Whitten is represented by Seven Eight Artists.

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Organist and composer Chelsea Chen is internationally renowned for her concerts of “rare musicality” and “lovely lyrical grandeur,” and a compositional style that is “charming” and “irresistible” (Los Angeles Times). Ms. Chen has electrified audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia in venues such as the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX, St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City, and Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. As a composer she is broadening the organ repertoire with her own works based on Asian folksongs. Ms. Chen has soloed with orchestras including the Wuhan Philharmonic in China, the Jakarta Simfonia in Indonesia, and the Juilliard Percussion Orchestra in Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Additionally she has performed under the baton of eminent conductors including Jahja Ling, JoAnn Falletta, and Victor Yampolsky. She has championed contemporary works by esteemed composers Ola Gjeilo and Paul Desenne. The recipient of the 2009 Lili Boulanger Memorial Award, Ms. Chen is a graduate of Juilliard, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, having studied with John Weaver and Paul Jacobs. She was also a full scholarship student of Thomas Murray at Yale University, where she earned an Artist Diploma. Her playing has been aired on CNN.com, “Pipedreams” from American Public Media, Hawaii Public Radio, and Taiwan’s Good News Radio. For more information, visit https://www.chelseachen.com

PRELUDE BEGINS AT 2:15PM; Prayer Service at 2:30pm

Register your Choir or Group to Participate

Register as an Individual Chorister to Participate

Experience a multitude of singers from all faiths coming together to make beautiful music under the direction of Guest Conductor and Clinician Kent Tritle. This special day begins with Kent Tritle leading a choral workshop in the morning bringing choristers from all around Southern California and beyond, and culminates in a 2:30pm Prayer Service in the Cathedral accompanied by Festival Organist Daniel Ficarri playing the Hazel Wright Organ.

Choral and Organ Repertoire

Organ Voluntary: Ceremonial Dialogue - Daniel Ficarri*WEST COAST PREMIERE

In the year that King Uzziah died - David McK. Williams

Adinu (Sufi Song) - Sufi melody, arr. Shireen Abu-Khader and André de Quadros

Esto Los Digo - Kinley Lange

Hymn: Leoni “The God of Abraham Praise”

I was glad - Charles H. H. Parry

Magnificat - Daniel Ficarri*WEST COAST PREMIERE

Nunc Dimittis - Daniel Ficarri*WEST COAST PREMIERE

Hymn: Thaxted “O God beyond all praising”

Organ Voluntary: Grand Choeur Dialogue - Eugene Gigout

Choir Schedule for Participants:

8am: Arrival time/lineup/seating

8:30am - 10am: First rehearsal (for full rep participants)

10am - 10:30am: Short break/arrival time for abbreviated rep participants

10:30am - 12pm: Second rehearsal (for full & abbreviated rep participants)

12pm - 2pm: Lunch on your own

2pm: Choir Seating / Doors Open

2:15pm: Prelude begins

2:30pm: Interfaith Prayer Service begins

More about Kent and Daniel:

Kent Tritle is not only the Director of Music and Cathedral Organist from St. John the Divine in New York, the largest Cathedral worship space on this continent, but also the Organist for the New York Philharmonic. The last pipe organ that was in New York’s Philharmonic hall is actually currently installed in the Hazel Wright Organ, fulfilling Virgil Fox’s vision of combining that famous organ from New York with Ruffatti pipework to complete the mammoth Hazel Wright Organ. Learn more about Kent Tritle at https://kenttritle.com/

Also featured at this Festival is the brilliant organ playing of Daniel Ficarri, Associate Organist at St. John the Divine and acclaimed composer. Named by The Diapason magazine as one of America’s most influential organists under 30 years old, Daniel’s incredible music has been featured many times at Christ Cathedral - his Fanfare on Adeste Fideles was commissioned for the opening of the Festal Doors on Christmas Day during the Covid Pandemic of 2020; his Fanfare-Introduction in D was the very first music played on the newly-restored Hazel Wright Organ on February 7th, 2022; and his latest piece for solo organ Ceremonial Dialogues, was commissioned as the premiere new work for the restored Hazel Wright Organ in 2022 celebrating Hazel’s 40th Anniversary and recorded by Cathedral Organist David Ball released on the Gothic Label. Scores are available from his publisher MorningStar Music/ECS Publishing. Learn more about Daniel at https://www.danielficarri.com/

PROGRAM PDF CLICK HERE

Join us for a festive evening of Christmas Music - listen to seasonal choral favorites sung by a multitude of choirs including our Diocesan Children’s Choir, and sing along with many beloved Christmas Carols, this year especially featuring the Hazel Wright Organ for the very first time leading the music of the most wonderful time of the year!

No ticket required. Seating will be open in the Cathedral – first come, first served. Doors will open at 7:00pm. A free-will offering will be taken. RSVP to receive updates on all of our concerts.

RSVP and Donate to the Hazel Wright Endowment

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5:00pm in the Arboretum - Hazel’s Restoration & Return

Enjoy savory hors d’oeuvres while Michael Barone of NPR’s Pipedreams leads guests through a video documentary about the restoration of the Hazel Wright Organ followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with Piero Ruffatti of the Ruffatti Brothers (Leading International Pipe Organ Builders and Restorers of the Hazel Wright Organ), Dr. David Crean (Author of the new book The Hazel Wright Organ) and David Ball (Christ Cathedral Organist). Book signing will be available.

7:30pm in Christ Cathedral - Dedication Concert with Hector Olivera

Join us in the Cathedral for a stunning program of exciting music by Hector Olivera. Maestro Olivera played the very last recital ten years ago before the restoration project and it is an honor to have him back as the first recitalist on the newly-restored Hazel!

9:00pm in the Arboretum - Artist’s Reception with Meet & Greet