Join us on Saturday, March 23, 2024 for the 12th Organ Day! A FREE, family-friendly day full of organ-related performances from The Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, The Lucas Brown Trio, and more! The event, which is generously supported by the Wyncote Foundation, celebrates the vast array of artistic mediums that take place in our venues, while highlighting the magnificent Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ.
Organ Day kicks off at 11:30 AM with a FREE performance from the GRAMMY® Award-winning Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Assistant Conductor Austin Chanu with organist Paul Jacobs. The program will include works by Charles-Marie Widor, George Frideric Handel, and Alexandre Guilmant. This performance is FREE, but tickets are required for entry and will be seated on a first-come first-served basis. RSVP for your free ticket on our website.
The day continues with an array of non-ticketed events:
- The Lucas Brown Trio perform on the Plaza stage at 12:30 PM
- Children are invited to explore the organ with Kids Play the Organ at 1:20 PM
- Philadelphia Ballet will perform Pas de duex from Angel Corella’s Carmen, Giselle, and White Swan on the Verizon Hall stage at 2:30 PM
- Organists Dr. Jay Fluellen and John Walthausen will play at the same time in a Multi-Player Organ performance at 2:55 PM
- Opera Philadelphia Chorus with conductor Elizabeth Braden and organist Meghan Meloy Ness perform at 3:45 PM.
The FREE day of activities wraps up with the following activities:
- Saint Mark’s Church Boy & Girl Choir with choirmaster Dr. Robert Lehman and organist Dr. Thomas Gaynor at 4:35 PM
- Laurel and Hardy’s silent film, 1937 Leave ‘em Laughing, accompanied by a live organ performance from organist Luke Staisiunas at 5:15 PM
- And finally, the popular “Organ Pumps” at 5:45 PM, during which guests are invited to leave their seats and lie on the stage of Verizon Hall, feeling the powerful vibrations of the organ.
“Organ Day is a fantastic opportunity for the community to experience the vast array of artistic mediums presented in our venues, from orchestral music to opera, ballet to jazz, and so much more,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO. “The event, which is generously supported by the Wyncote Foundation, celebrates and showcases the versatility of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, a majestic instrument in Verizon Hall.”
Check out our press release for information about the full schedule and repertoire. We hope to see you on Saturday, March 23!