On Friday, May 13, 2016, at 7:30 pm, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church n Morristown will feature Bryan Dunnewald in its annual Wheeler Recital for Young Organists.
The Wheeler family endowment provides a yearly grant for promising young performance organists. Bryan is Assistant Organist at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, the world’s largest functioning pipe organ, and at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.
Performing on St. Peter’s historic E.M. Skinner organ, his program includes works by Bach, Buxtehude, Dupré, Eben, Hancock, and Langlais.
Bryan is a student in the studio of Alan Morrison at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he pursues a Bachelor’s degree in organ performance.
In May 2014, Bryan graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where he studied organ with Thomas Bara and piano with Steve Larson.
Concurrent with graduation, Bryan received both the Young Artist Award and the Young Scholar Award, the two highest honors given at the Academy in the arts and academics.
The Academy also honored Bryan with the Roger E. and Mary Jane Jacobi Award, given to one graduating senior for character, leadership, support of his peers and of the Interlochen community as a whole.
In 2013, he also received Interlochen’s Fine Arts Award and Einstein Award in Physics. He has since returned to Interlochen Arts Camp to teach organ alongside Thomas Bara.
In 2013, Bryan was awarded first prize, high school division, at the national Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Competition; he also received the David Spicer Hymn- Playing Award. He has performed on National Public Radio’s From The Top, Colorado Public Radio and Interlochen Public Radio.
His solo performances have ranged from Colorado to California, Michigan to Washington D.C., among others, including venues such as Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Verizon Hall, and Washington National Cathedral.
Bryan enjoys collaborating with large ensembles and has recently performed with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the Interlochen Festival and Chamber choirs, and the Colorado Symphony. His new album, Bryan at Bryn Athyn, features the recording premiere of Calvin Hampton’s First Suite for Organ, and can be found on his website, BryanDunnewald-Organist.com.
As a composer, Bryan has written works for soloists and ensembles; the Interlochen Academy Band premiered his transcription of Max Reger’s Variations and Fugue on “God Save the King” in May 2014.
After studying improvisation and dance accompaniment for two years privately with Steve Larson, Bryan began accompanying classes (entirely improvised) for the Interlochen Dance Company in his senior year at the Academy.
Bryan has studied under: Alan Morrison, organ; Thomas Bara, organ; Steve Larson, piano; Dr. Martha Sandford-Heyns, organ and piano; and Dr. Joseph Galema, organ.
In addition to music, some of Bryan’s other interests include architecture, sociology, organ design and building, photography and physics. Bryan is an Eagle Scout, scouting’s highest rank.
A freewill offering will be collected. St. Peter’s is at the corner of Miller Road and South Street. (Note: Street Parking only.)
