News
Five Fridays: harp and organ
Rachel O’Brien, harp
with
Andrew Kotylo, organ
Friday November 4th, 2022 at 7:30pm
on the labyrinth at
St. Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill
Since 2011 the Five Fridays series has raised funds to benefit two local organizations that combat hunger and homelessness in NW Philadelphia. Thanks to support from generous sponsors and concert-goers, all net proceeds from the series will be shared between Face to Face Germantown and Family Promise of Philadelphia (formerly Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network).
A reception to meet the artists will follow the concert.
Tickets online or at the door | $30 General Admission, $5 Student
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PROGRAM
Prelude and Toccata – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), trans. Marcel Grandjany
(solo harp)
Suite no. 4 in D minor – George Frideric Handel, trans. Rachel Lee O’Brien
(solo harp)
Concerto in B flat – George Frideric Handel, cadenza by Marcel Grandjany
(harp and organ)
Aria in Classic Style – Marcel Grandjany (1891-1975)
(harp and organ)
Rhapsodie — Marcel Grandjany
(solo harp)
THE ARTISTS
RACHEL O’BRIEN – The 2019 Gold Medal winner of the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition, Rachel Lee O’Brien (née Hall) has appeared in Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Houston’s E. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Cleveland’s Severance Hall, and Blossom Music Center. A winner of Astral Artists’ 2017 National Auditions, Rachel has received top prizes from such competitions as the Lyon & Healy Awards, the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Concerto Competition and the Saratoga Harp Colony “Play with the Pros” Competition. She is also the recipient of the Alice Chalifoux Award, and was the 2015 CIM Presser Scholar.
Rachel has appeared as soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra. She is a member of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, with whom she regularly tours along the East Coast, commissions new works, and reaches communities of all backgrounds through music.
Passionate about introducing the harp to new audiences, Rachel has a significant following on social media and maintains a private studio for local and worldwide harp students, whom she teaches both in person and online.”
ANDREW KOTYLO – Andrew Kotylo has been Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill since 2019. Previously he had served as Organist/Choirmaster at the Basilica of St. Peter in Columbia, South Carolina and Associate Director of Music at the historic Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut.
A native of Binghamton, New York, Andy holds degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied organ with Christopher Young and Larry Smith and choral conducting with William Jon Gray. Other teachers have included Carolyn Albaugh, Searle Wright, Jonathan Biggers, and John Schwandt. His doctoral document concerns the life and organ works of Searle Wright, and he was assisted in his research by a grant through the American Guild of Organists National Library at Boston University given by the widow of E. Power Biggs.
Andy has concertized throughout the United States and in England, with performances at conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Association of Anglican Musicians that have earned critical acclaim. A top prize-winner in numerous competitions, including the American Guild of Organists’ National Young Artists Competition and Poister Competition, his performances have been featured several times on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. He is also active as a private teacher, competition adjudicator, and has been a faculty member for A.G.O. Pipe Organ Encounters.
FUTURE FIVE FRIDAYS CONCERTS
February 17, 2023 at 7:30pm
Trio Eos, vocal ensemble
March 10, 2023 at 7:30pm
Julietta Curenton, flute; Jordan Dodson, guitar
April 28, 2023 at 7:30pm
Yu Ting Chen, violin; Clancy Newman, cello; Natalie Zhu, piano
