Glen Foerd is proud to partner with the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) to present a free public performance by organist Wesley Parrott. Through music, Wesley will explore the many eras of Glen Foerd’s 1902 Haskell pipe organ, starting with organ music popular at the dawn of the 20th Century. The program will feature works by Arthur Foote (a member of the Boston Six), Ralph Kinder (a prominent Philadelphia composer and organist), Florence Price (African American composer and organist from the Midwest), and others whose familiar melodies remain popular beyond the first half of the 20th century. Feel free to find a seat in the first-floor drawing room and second-floor art gallery or stroll through the house to view the Gilded Age architecture, eclectic artworks, and material collections.
This performance and the restoration of Glen Foerd's Pipe Organ was made possible by a generous grant from the Wyncote Foundation.
Contact our Arts and Culture Program Manager, Alice, with questions about this event: 215-632-5330 x13 / athompson@glenfoerd.org.
After the concert, don’t miss out on the celebratory reception hosted by AGO from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm! Take a guided tour of the mansion with demonstrations of the Haskell organ’s historic paper roll player and modern digital player functions. All are welcome to purchase tickets here
About the Artist:
Wesley Parrott is an Organist at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral and a Liturgical Musician at St. Francis De Sales R.C. Church in Philadelphia. His recordings are available through the Organ Historical Society. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Chapter of the AGO, the Settlement Music School (West Philadelphia branch), and is a past president of The Franklin Inn Club, Philadelphia.
He holds degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music, The University of the South (Sewanee, TN), and the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. In Philadelphia, he has served St Mark’s Episcopal Church and St Mary’s Episcopal Church Cathedral Road. Previous positions include Alexandria, VA (The Old Presbyterian Meeting House), Washington, D.C. (New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Church of the Epiphany), and Rochester, NY (St Stanislaus Kostka RC Church).
Winner of three US national organ playing competitions in 1979 (Ottumwa Iowa, Fort Wayne, and Mader), he was also a finalist in the International Organ Playing Competition, Grand Prix de Chartres in 1982. Wesley has performed in Macy’s Grand Court on the Wanamaker Organ, Longwood Gardens, Ocean Grove, NJ, The Kennedy Center, Washington National Cathedral, The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, National City Christian Church (Washington, D.C.), The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall, The Academy of Music (Philadelphia), Princeton U. Chapel and in cathedrals throughout England.