Faculty Recital: Organist Rulon Christiansen @ WSU (Ogden: Oct 2)

Rare Organ Recital

Who: WSU Department of Performing Arts & The Union Station Foundation
What: Rulon Christiansen, faculty organ recital
When: Saturday, 2 October 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: Garrison Choral Room (BC136)
Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets: No tickets are required for this Free performance.

Weber State University Department of the Performing Arts presents Rulon Christiansen in a faculty organ recital, Saturday, October 2, 7:30 pm in the Garrison Choral Room (BC136), Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts. He will perform solo organ compositions by Couperin, Bach, Buxtehude, Clerambault, Messiaen and Vierne as well as his own “Lyric Symphony,” a suite in six movements. This is a free performance. Children 8 years and older are welcome.
Rulon Christiansen was born and raised in Utah and first studied piano with his parents, both professional musicians. He studied piano for several years with Frederic Dixon, a pupil of Rafael Joseffy, who studied with Franz Liszt. He also studied the organ with Tabernacle organists, Dr. Alexander Schreiner and Dr. Robert Cundick.
Dr. Christiansen attended Brigham Young University where he earned B.A. and M.M. degrees in organ as a pupil of Professor J. J. Keeler. He later earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Performer’s Certificate in Organ as a pupil of Russell Saunders at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. He won first place in the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, was finalist in the MTNA Competition, and semifinalist in the AGO Improvisation Competition. He has studied in France with Gaston Litaize and Andre Fleury and has performed in concert in various cities throughout the United States under the auspices of Artist Recitals Concert Management in Los Angeles.
A published composer, he has studied composition with Dr. Robert P. Manookin, Dr. Merrill Bradshaw, and Dr. Samuel Adler and studied improvisation with Allen Hobbs. His works appear in the catalogues of Shawnee Press, Alfred, Jackman Press, and on-line at Wardorganist.com. His organ compositions have been performed in recital during national and regional A.G.O. Conventions, on National Public Radio (Pipe Dreams), and on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast. His newest composition, Lyric Symphony, was recently premiered by Dr. James Welch on the Temple Square Concert Series in the Mormon Tabernacle and at BYU Idaho.
As a recognized expert on Louis Vierne, his articles have been published in the American Organist magazine; and he is well known as a contributor to the book by Dr. Rollin Smith entitled Louis Vierne, Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral.
He has held numerous professional church positions as organist and choir director in churches in New York and Utah and has also performed many recitals as guest organist at the Mormon Tabernacle. He is currently adjunct professor of organ at Weber State University, teaches privately, and serves as organist at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. For additional information about Dr. Christiansen and his publications as well as ordering his organist series, From Pianist to Organist, you can visit his website at: www.pianist2organist.com
For more information about this program, contact Rulon Christiansen, rulontheorganist@yahoo.com