Isabelle Demers, Organ

21/22 Overture Concert Organ Season

Known as the ‘diminutive dynamo’, Isabelle Demers will wow our audience with a program that will use just about every sound on our Mighty Klais. This concert of challenging transcriptions, beginning with Mendelssohn’s Overture to St. Paul and closing with movements of her own transcription of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, will demonstrate the versatility of our great instrument. Ms. Demers’ incredible virtuosity and nuanced interpretations will be on full display in this can’t-miss event! – Greg Zelek

“If the organ is the ‘king of instruments,’ then the king’s consort must be Isabelle Demers, one of North America’s most sought-after organists.” – The Union

“… virtuosic playing… brilliant and fluent performance… virtuosic organist.” – Organ Canada

About Isabelle Demers

Isabelle Demers is The Joyce Bowden Chair in Organ at Baylor University, where she teaches applied organ and other courses in the organ curriculum. Dr. Demers holds the BM in piano and organ from Le Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, as well as MM and DMA from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Paul Jacobs. Her doctoral work on Bach’s St. John’s Passion received the Richard French Prize for best dissertation at commencement. Professor Demers concertizes widely in North America and Europe; recent engagements include the cathedrals of Cologne and Regensburg in Germany, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Royal Opera House of Muscat (Oman), Auckland Town Hall (New Zealand), Melbourne Town Hall (Australia), as well as major universities and concert halls in the United States, among them Davies Hall (San Francisco), Disney Hall (Los Angeles), the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), the Wanamaker Organ (Philadelphia), Yale University, and the Eastman School of Music. She has recorded four CDs for the labels Pro Organo and Acis, with three more projects currently in production.

Health and Safety Information

○ Overture Center’s Health Protocols: All who enter the Overture Center building must wear a face mask and show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test. Patrons not vaccinated, including children under age 12, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from within 72 hours prior to the performance. Please visit overture.org/health for more information on masks, vaccination proof, negative COVID test criteria, and more.

○ New Overture Security Measures: Overture will be utilizing new walk-through security screening technology that you will be required to move through on arrival. This should eliminate lines and allow foot traffic to quickly flow into the spaces. Additionally, large bags and backpacks are prohibited from entering the theater and can be checked after being inspected. For your convenience, we suggest you make other arrangements for these items before arriving. Visit overture.org/security for more information on these policies.

○ Read MSO’s Health and Safety FAQs: More information about our ticket policies, concessions, and answers to other frequently asked questions can be found at madisonsymphony.org/faq. Programs, dates, and artists subject to change.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

Walter & Karen Pridham Charitable Fund
Skofronick Family Charitable Trust
Friends of the Overture Concert Organ

Greg Zelek is the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Organist and the Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ.