Organist

This performance highlights the warm and tender side of the organ with string and wind players from the Jacksonville Symphony and a selection of colorful chamber repertoire. Greg Zelek brings his awe-inspiring talent to the stage and concludes this season’s Concert Organ Series with pieces that spotlight the instrument in all its shining glory.

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Organ Chamber Music

Jacoby Symphony Hall

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the UW–Madison Wind Ensemble and their conductor, Scott Teeple, to our organ series in what I hope is one of many future collaborations. Pairing the forces of our Klais with the full band will blow you away in this electrifying program. With large ensemble works such as Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry (“Danny Boy”), as well as intimate works like Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe arranged for organ and saxophone featuring a soloist from the ensemble, I cannot think of a more powerful way to close out the 23/24 season! – Greg Zelek

Greg Zelek with the UW–Madison Wind Ensemble

Overture Center for the Arts

Take a journey to the heart of Jacoby Symphony Hall and discover a truly historical monument: the Symphony's world-class pipe organ. The king of instruments, the Bryan Concert Organ, unites with the colossal sounds of Brass and Percussion for an exhilarating performance. Greg Zelek returns to showcase his mastery that highlights the organ’s versatile, musical power and equally monumental melodies.

Brass, Organ & Percussion

I am so excited to bring my childhood experience of listening to the music of my Cuban heritage while growing up in Miami to my home in Madison. This program will demonstrate the tremendous versatility of our Overture Concert Organ in a way that you all have not heard before. I contacted my childhood guitar teacher, Alvaro Bermudez, to help put together a band of some of the best classical and jazz musicians in Miami. Magela Herrera, flute, Alvaro Bermudez, guitar, Yarelis Gandul, percussion, and Alex Hernandez, bass, will join forces with me and our Mighty Klais to present a bilingual program of both classical and popular Latin-American music.

¡Greg Zelek y Amigos!

I am so excited to bring my childhood experience of listening to the music of my Cuban heritage while growing up in Miami to my home in Madison. This program will demonstrate the tremendous versatility of our Overture Concert Organ in a way that you all have not heard before. I contacted my childhood guitar teacher, Alvaro Bermudez, to help put together a band of some of the best classical and jazz musicians in Miami. Magela Herrera, flute, Alvaro Bermudez, guitar, Yarelis Gandul, percussion, and Alex Hernandez, bass, will join forces with me and our Mighty Klais to present a bilingual program of both classical and popular Latin-American music. We will even premiere the lyrics that my grandfather wrote to one of the most popular Cuban songs of his day. I cannot wait to bring this joyous and emotional event to our Madison community. — Greg Zelek

Greg Zelek Y Amigos

After our first performance together back in 2019 and a solo performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the MSO, Thomas Mesa returns as we collaborate once again in a program of organ and cello music. Mr. Mesa and I will both perform works by women composers, such as Nadia Boulanger’s gorgeous Trois Pièces, as well as a solo cello work written for him by Spanish composer Andrea Casarrubios. We will close this exciting evening with a commissioned work written for the two of us, Daniel Ficarri’s Sonata in C minor for Organ and Cello, which was inspired by our first performance at Overture Hall. You won’t want to miss the world premiere of this incredible piece!  – Greg Zelek

Greg Zelek, Organ & Thomas Mesa, Cello

I am excited to announce a new program for our February 28 organ concert! I have the pleasure of performing alongside the great trombonist, Mark Hetzler, who last performed with me in the successful Organ and Diapason Brass concert that closed our last season. A former member of the Empire Brass, and now professor at UW-Madison, Mark has toured the world as both a soloist and ensemble member, playing a wide range of repertoire. With a program featuring a New Orleans-style version of When the Saints Go Marching In, classical arrangements of Bach and Mendelssohn, and original compositions by Mark himself, I have no doubt that the audience is going to be moved and thrilled. Mark and I can’t wait to have a blast with you all at this unique Organ and Trombone concert. See you there!  – Greg Zelek

Greg Zelek

Organist

Events

May 4, 2024

Organ Chamber Music · Jacksonville Symphony

Apr 19, 2024

Greg Zelek with the UW–Madison Wind Ensemble · Madison Symphony Orchestra

Apr 19, 2024

Greg Zelek with the UW–Madison Wind Ensemble · Overture Center for the Arts

Feb 10, 2024

Brass, Organ & Percussion · Jacksonville Symphony

Oct 6, 2023

¡Greg Zelek y Amigos! · Madison Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Organ in Toccata (5th Symphony) by Widor

Madison Symphony Orchestra

About

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