Northrop Presents
Northrop Organist Greg Zelek in Concert
Thu, Sep 12, 7:00 pm
In-Person / Livestream
On-Demand through Sep 22
Join us for an entertaining evening of organ virtuosity as we welcome newly appointed Northrop Organist Greg Zelek to his first concert in this role. Zelek will serve as a performer, educator, advisor, and resident artist, as well as oversee ongoing care of Northrop’s spectacular and historic Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. This concert will be Zelek’s first opportunity to thrill the audience with expert selections from a wide-range of repertoire, and experience firsthand the enthusiastic and supportive Northrop audience!
Free for UMN students; registration required. This concert is free to UMN students and is just one of many engaging activities scheduled as part of Northrop’s Open House. Join us!
You might enjoy this performance if you loved:
- GTCYS Symphony Celebrating Dean Billmeyer
- Anna Lapwood, Organ Recital
- Alceé Chriss III, Organ Recital
- Wayne Marshall OBE, Organist
- and other Northrop Organ recitals.
- Film events are free for UMN students!
- First Year/Free Ticket for new UMN students and staff/faculty
- $5 off for students and many others
- Children 17 and under: 50% off base price, always
- $30 under 30: 2 tickets per valid ID + one free beverage per ticket
- Pay What You Wish for the Dance Theatre of Harlem Relaxed Matinee
- 20% off tickets for groups of 10 or more
Create Your Own Package
Our flexible, Create Your Own package lets you choose your experiences from any three or more in-person events from the 2024-25 Northrop Season and save 15%! Subscribers enjoy:
- Savings of 15%—when you buy three+ 2024-25 Northrop Season events
- Best seats—be among the first to choose
- Partial payment plans (click button to view details on this limited-time offer)
- Early prepaid parking reservations—order when you purchase tickets
- Invites to exclusive, behind-the-scenes events
- Flexibility at no extra cost—get unlimited free ticket exchanges
- Our appreciation for supporting Northrop programming and Centennial Commissions! Your purchase helps make a difference.
Quotes / Reviews
“Zelek, a consummate artist...has the ability to make the 2-manual Aeolian-Skinner Opus 963 organ, installed in 1937, overcome both its venerability and vulnerability in a beautiful performance of carefully selected music.”—Phindie
“Zelek was physically animated throughout the performance. His hands flew across three levels of keyboards while his feet worked the pedalboard like somebody playing Dance Dance Revolution in an arcade.”—Wisconsin State Journal
“Seeing and hearing Zelek in action helps explain why praise follows the organist everywhere.”—Isthmus
“Zelek, however, is the glue that holds everything together and is also the reason why the concerts can be labeled entertainment. Because they’re not just music; they are joyful productions. Zelek is a performer, not just a musician.”—Bill Wineke, Channel 3000
“Organist Greg Zelek managed the difficult challenge of keeping his dynamics spot on at all times in relation to the orchestra. His registrations were creative and colorful, particularly in the quieter moments of the second movement.”—Florida Times-Union
Know Before You Go
Event Information
- In-person Seating: General Admission
- Theater Doors Open: Approximately 30 minutes prior to start time
- Performance Begins: 7:00 pm
- Tickets: Check the email you provided when you placed your order to locate your digital ticket. Be sure to check your spam or junk mail folders if you do not see them.
- Detailed Event Information and Streaming Access: Find Your Event Info link on your order confirmation or check your email within 48 hours for detailed information from Northrop, U of M
If you need assistance with your tickets, please call 612-624-2345, email umntix@umn.edu.
Learn More - Explore These Themes
The content below derives from the Northrop Across Campus Program that supports Northrop's mission towards intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.
Find ways to make thematic connections to these suggested topics:
Music - Classical and Jazz, Pipe Organ, Latinx Studies, Tango, Afro-Cuban
These resources provide additional information about the performers, the history of the art form and the artistic process, allowing you to dive deeper.
Links:
Greg Zelek Cuban Concert Article
Madison Symphony: Greg Zelek website
Start a conversation about the performance or encourage reflection, using these questions as inspiration.
Praised as “extraordinary in the classical music world” (Jon Hornbacher, PBS Wisconsin Life) and a “musical star” (Bill Wineke, Channel 3000), Greg Zelek will step into his role as the first Northrop Organist this fall, curating Northrop’s organ program and building bridges between Northrop, students, faculty, guest artists, and community. Zelek is also the principal organist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, overseeing all of MSO’s organ programming.
- How does the organ span musical, cultural, artistic, and spiritual traditions?
- How can spaces with organs (concert halls, auditoriums, churches) create new, unique artistic opportunities for audiences and artists?
- Which curatorial responsibilities do you think are specific to Zelek’s role on a university campus?
Northrop's renowned Aeolian-Skinner organ was built from 1932 to 1936. It has four keyboards, nearly 7000 pipes, and is over 40 feet tall, making it the third largest concert hall organ in the U.S. It takes great care to maintain and recently underwent a $3.2 million restoration. Zelek’s position will advise in preserving this breathing instrument of history, while showcasing its versatility in unique programs.
- How does pipe organ curation require technical and musical expertise?
- Northrop’s organ is treasured for its unique sound and connection to musical and university history. However, contemporary technologies like MIDI, sampling, and AI present a unique opportunity for classical musicians: how can they balance the preservation of these instruments with the dynamic evolution of musical landscapes? And what sorts of programs can they put on that incorporate both?
