Pipe Organ Recital by Adam J. Brakel

Having been compared to Liszt, Gould, Bernstein, and Paganini, organist Adam J. Brakel is proving that prodigies do not fade. After having been called “An absolute organ prodigy, with the technique and virtuosity that most concert pianists could only dream of, and having the potential to be the leading organist of his generation…The Franz Liszt of the organ” by NPR in Florida, the young recent graduate of the Peabody Conservatory has already embarked on a successful concert career, playing from coast to coast in America and abroad. Dame Gillian Weir, one of the foremost organists in the world has said of Brakel, “He is to be commended for his devotion to the art of performance, and to music itself.” Not only does this young phenomenon perform as a concert artist, but he is now Director of Music at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. This promotion follows two years as Director of Music/Organist at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Cathedral in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a position he was appointed to at age 25. This made him one of the youngest directors appointed to a cathedral in the country.

After beginning his musical studies at the age of four, Brakel was awarded an American Guild of Organists scholarship as a junior in high school and then enrolled at Duquesne University where he studied organ with Dr. John Walker and Dr. David Craighead as well as harpsichord with Rebecca Rollett. Brakel graduated from Duquesne University magna cum laude in 2006 and was awarded the Andre Marchal Award for Excellence in Performance. He then enrolled at The Juilliard School, receiving numerous top awards while there including the John Dexter Bush Scholarship, and the Alice Tully Award. In 2007, he enrolled at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he finished his Masters work and enrolled in their Graduate Performance Diploma program where he studied with the esteemed teacher, Donald Sutherland. Among his achievements in Baltimore are the receipt of multiple scholarships, and he was one of the guest assisting organists at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

As a performer and a top prizewinner of many competitions, he further distinguished himself in the Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition, the Gruenstein Memorial Organ Competition, the French Organ Music Seminar Competition, the Carlene Neihart International Organ Competition, and awarded the prestigious “Oundle Award” from his studies in Toulouse, France.

In demand as a concert organist, Brakel travels from coast to coast in the states. His repertoire of organ literature is extensive, and includes the entire spectrum of styles including the complete organ works of Bach, Bruhns, Buxtehude, Franck, Couperin, Liszt, Grigny, Mozart, Mendelssohn and others. In this season he had a recital tour of Germany as part of 4 organ festivals, as well as many performances across the states.

 

Programme

Gade	Tonstuck in A minor
Bach	Prelude and Fugue in E minor (wedge), BWV 548
Grigny	Récit de Tierce en taille from Livre d’Orgue
Rone	Passacaglia in F minor
Duruflé	Toccata from Suite, op. 5

 

Free tickets are distributed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Enquiries Counter (9am-9pm daily) from 9 January onwards. Each patron may get a maximum of 4 tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Audiences aged 6 and above are welcome. Programme lasts around 40 minutes without intermission.

The presenter reserves the right to substitute artists and change programme without prior notice should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.

Enquiries: 2734 2009 / 2734 2819