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Greg Zelek with the UW-Madison Concert Choir, Mariana Farah, conductor
Venue: Overture Hall
Thursday, October 2, 2025
7:30 p.m.
$25-$45
Single tickets on sale Sept. 4th
The UW-Madison Concert Choir, conducted by Mariana Farah, will join MSO Principal Organist, Greg Zelek, in a concert featuring some beautiful works written for organ and choir. Opening with the Kyrie from Vierne’s Messe Solennelle, the audience will hear the power of the organ in tandem with these powerful voices. In a program featuring other well-known classics, like arrangements of Amazing Grace and Barber’s Sure on This Shining Night, as well as popular arrangements of Brazilian jazz tunes, you won’t want to miss this exciting collaboration!
Featuring
Greg Zelek, organ
UW-Madison Concert Choir, Dr. Mariana Farah, conductor
Program
Concert Run Time: Approx. 1 hour and 20 mins
Music
Louis Vierne, Kyrie from Messe Solennelle
Samuel Barber, Sure on This Shining Night
Traditional (arr. Mack Wilberg), Amazing Grace
Eriks Esenvalds, Te Deum
Zaquinha De Abreu, Tico-Tico
Brazilian Folk Songs, Fun no Itororó
Enhance Your Concert Experience
Take Note: Drinks Allowed in Overture Hall
As of this season, drinks are allowed inside Overture Hall during all Madison Symphony Orchestra concerts. Refreshments may be purchased at bars and concession stands located around the Overture Hall lobby before each concert and during intermission. Please enjoy food in the lobby and unwrap any candy or cough drops before the performance begins. Thank you!
“Hearing Greg play the organ is always a special experience for me. I am so impressed by his command and mastery of his instrument. I also enjoy how easily he connects with his audience and how “at home” he is relating to the audience with his personable and likeable style.” — MSO Subscriber
“The performers and the chemistry between them, Mr Zelek’s personality and obvious enthusiasm for the music and the instrument… what a gem.” —MSO Subscriber
Meet the Performers
Greg Zelek, organ
UW-Madison Concert Choir
Dr. Mariana Farah, conductor
Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors!
MAJOR SPONSORS
Walter and Karen Pridham Charitable Fund
Kay Schwichtenberg and Herman Baumann
Greg Zelek is the MSO’s Principal Organist and Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ.
Dr. Mariana Farah is the Director of Choral Studies at the Mead Witter School of Music where she conducts the UW–Madison Concert Choir, teaches courses in graduate choral conducting, and oversees all aspects of a comprehensive choral program. Prior to her appointment at UW-Madison, Dr. Farah served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Kansas.
Born in Brazil, Dr. Farah received her Bachelor of Music from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Master’s degree from the University of Iowa, and her DMA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her choirs have successfully performed at the Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin Music Educators Association conventions and at the 2008 and 2018 Southwestern ACDA conferences. Under her leadership the UW-Madison Concert Choir has proudly been selected to perform at the 2025 ACDA National Conference in Dallas, TX. In addition to appearances at music conferences, Concert Choir and the UW-Madison Treble Choir are both finalists for the 2024 American Prize for Best Choral Performance in the large collegiate choir category.
Farah’s research focuses on Brazilian choral music, particularly the a cappella choral works of Ernani Aguiar (b. 1950). Her edition of Aguiar’s Três Motetinos No.2 has been published by Earthsongs, and she expects to introduce more of his music to the United States through performances, recordings, editions, and future publications of his unknown choral literature. In addition to her work at UW-Madison, Dr. Farah maintains an active schedule as a clinician for festivals in Brazil and in the U.S., where she is often sought out for her expertise in Brazilian choral music. She has presented at several conferences for the National Association for Music Education, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization. Recent engagements include appearances as a conductor at the 2025 WSMA High School State Honors Choir, 2024 Badger Honor Choir Conference, 2023 European Tour with the Wisconsin All Stars of Music, 2022 Colorado University Madrigal Festival, 2022 UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic, 2019 Northwest Kansas Music Educators Association High School Honor Choir, the 2018 Southwestern ACDA conference, 2016 & 2014 Kansas Music Educators Association Convention, and the 2014 Idaho All State Treble Choir.
Dr. Farah is currently a board member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and the R&R Chair for College and University for the ACDA Midwestern Division. She proudly served as the President Elect (2018-2020) and R&R Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives (2014-2018) for the ACDA Southwestern Division.