Virtuoso Organist Alcee Chriss III Will Perform in Malmgren Concert Feb. 25

Organist Alcee Chriss III will perform a solo recital at Hendricks Chapel on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. His performance in the Malmgren Concert Series is part of his award for winning second prize in the 2017 Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition in Organ Playing.

Alcee Chriss

Chriss will showcase a program of diverse pieces ranging from Bach and Reger to pieces by African American composers. Chriss will also perform some of his own compositions on the program. “Alcee Chriss is an exciting young performer with exceptional technique and stage presence,” says Anne Laver, University organist and coordinator of the Arthur Poister Competition. “He has prepared a compelling program with a connection to Black History Month, featuring pieces by Florence Price, Fela Sowande, Calvin Taylor and his own works. Our audience is in for a real treat.”

Chriss will also be a featured guest at Hendricks Chapel Dean’s Convocation at 7 p.m. that evening. The event will celebrate Black History Month with music and spoken reflections.

As an active organ and harpsichord player, as well as a jazz pianist and conductor, Chriss’ talents have been commended around the globe with prestigious awards and celebrated performances. His numerous accolades include first prize at the Canadian International Organ Competition (2017) and the Firmin Swinnen Silver Medalist at the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition (2016). He also won first prizes at the Miami International Organ Competition (2014), Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition (2013), Fort Wayne Organ Competition (2016) and the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists (2013).

The concert is part of the Malmgren Concert Series at Hendricks Chapel. The series was made possible by a generous gift to Hendricks Chapel from alumna Esther Malmgren ’42 in 1991. The free concerts, held throughout the year, feature a wide variety of music.

The last concert in the 2017-18 Malmgren season will be “Voices of the Shoah,” a special concert commemorating the Holocaust, on Sunday, March 4. The concert will feature the Hendricks Chapel Choir, directed by José “Peppie” Calvar.

This concert is free and accessible. Parking is also available in the Q1 (on space-available basis and handicapped), Hillside, Q3 and Q4 parking lots.

For more information, call Hendricks Chapel at 315.443.2901 or visit hendricks.syr.edu.

About Syracuse University

Founded in 1870, Syracuse University is a private international research university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering student success through teaching excellence, rigorous scholarship and interdisciplinary research. Comprising 11 academic schools and colleges, the University has a long legacy of excellence in the liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines that prepares students for the complex challenges and emerging opportunities of a rapidly changing world. Students enjoy the resources of a 270-acre main campus and extended campus venues in major national metropolitan hubs and across three continents. Syracuse’s student body is among the most diverse for an institution of its kind across multiple dimensions, and students typically represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Syracuse also has a long legacy of supporting veterans and is home to the nationally recognized Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first university-based institute in the U.S. focused on addressing the unique needs of veterans and their families.