At St. Olaf, we are blessed to have a magnificent 67-rank pipe organ. This fall, it will be showcased in a series of recitals on Wednesday afternoons, immediately following the noon Mass. Come hear the organ thunder with might and whisper gently as talented organists showcase a variety of repertoire.
Wednesday Organ Recitals run from October 20 through May 18, and will be approx. 30-40 minutes long. Freewill donation.
RECITAL PROGRAM - JACOB BENDA (ORGAN) & JENNIFER WILDESON (VIOLIN)
Marian Suite David Bednall (b. 1979)
Ave Maria
Mary’s Lullaby
Ave Maris Stella
Suite Française FP. 80 Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Bransle de Bourgogne
Pavane
Petite marche militaire
Complainte
Bransle de Champagne
Sicilienne
Carillon
Beside Still Waters He Leads Me Charles Callahan (b. 1951)
Toccata: The Resurrection Pamela Decker (b. 1955)
JACOB BENDA BIO:
Acclaimed for his virtuosity and imaginative programming, JACOB BENDA has been featured as a solo recitalist and lecturer at universities, festivals and cathedrals throughout the United States including Yale University, University of Arizona, University of North Texas, Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival, the 2014 AGO National Convention, the opening performance for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Guild of Organists 2019-20 season, Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson, MS, Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, MN, Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle, WA, and others.
As a collaborative artist he has had the privilege to work with musicians throughout the country including the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, the Cornell University Glee Club, violinist Borislava Iltcheva, Concertmaster of the Baton Rouge Symphony, classical guitarists Tanja Miric and Darka Kooienga, Duo Miriç, and saxophonist Richard Dirlam.
Enthusiastic about new music, Jacob has performed premieres by composers such as Pamela Decker, James Sclater, Gary Bachlund, and has championed the music of 20th century composer Clarence Mader. His landmark recording, Music at Midnight, A Tonal Palette, Organ Music by Clarence Mader, (Centaur Label, CRC 3361), was applauded by the American Record Guide as:
"an important picture of American organ art in the 20th century...talented young American organist Jacob Benda performs with confident rhythmic stability and polished technical assurance."
Serving as the Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy at the historic Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis, MN since 2019, Dr. Benda is also a published author and member of various executive boards. Recently elected as Dean of the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, he additionally serves on the Board of Directors of the Ruth and Clarence Mader Memorial Scholarship Fund based in Los Angeles.
In 2015 he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) from Louisiana State University under the mentorship of concert organist Herndon Spillman, protégé of Maurice Duruflé.
Upcoming engagements include solo performances at the University of Iowa, the 2022 Piccolo Spoleto L’Organo Series in Charleston, SC, Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign, IL, St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge, LA, performances with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Great River Chorale, and a European Tour in 2022 featuring a concert at Magdeburg Cathedral in Germany.
JENNIFER WILDESON BIO:
Jennifer Wildeson is a native of Nova Scotia, Canada.
She studied violin performance at Dalhousie University in Halifax and Wheaton
College Conservatory in Illinois, and spent two summers at Meadowmount, the
Juilliard summer strings school. Between 1983 and 1997 she did extensive
orchestral and chamber music freelancing in the Los Angeles and San Francisco
areas. Jennifer and her husband, Jim, moved to St. Cloud twenty four years ago
to be closer to family. She freelances as a violinist and violist, and has been
a member of Thursday Musical in Minneapolis, St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra,
Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, St. Cloud String Quartet, and L'unica String
Quartet. The Wildesons are members of St. Mary's Cathedral parish in St. Cloud,
where Jennifer plays weekly Mass, along with many concerts and Diocesan
liturgies.
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