Introducing Greg Zelek, the New Northrop Organist!

Northrop Organist Greg Zelek is a powerhouse performer of classical music, whose work is lauded around the world. Zelek sat down with Kristen Brogdon, Northrop’s director of artistic and community programming, ahead of his debut concert on Sep 12 at the conclusion of the Northrop Open House. Learn all about him in this Performance Preview and on our Blog.

Listen in as Zelek describes what it’s like to play Northrop’s historic Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ and the repertoire for his first concert as Northrop organist.

In this interview in Spanish with Noah Bauer, Northrop’s campus engagement coordinator, Zelek discusses his new role as Northrop organist and upcoming first concert in the role.

Accomplished and award-winning, Zelek is the principal organist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and curator of the Overture Concert Organ, where he oversees the entirety of the MSO organ programming. Zelek performs throughout the U.S., both as a soloist, with the MSO, and with other prestigious orchestras. Notable achievements include being named one of The Diapason's “20 Under 30” and winning several major organ competitions. A Juilliard-trained musician who was the first organist to be awarded their exclusive Kovner Fellowship, Zelek released his first recording in 2022. He has also performed with the Canadian Brass in his role as visiting guest artist at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. As Northrop organist, he will split his time between Madison, WI, where he lives with his family, and Minneapolis. We are all very excited to welcome him to Northrop!

Watch this full performance by Zelek at the Madison Symphony Orchestra from Oct 2020.

Zelek will make his official debut on the Northrop stage by kicking off the Northrop 2024-25 Season with a concert on Sep 12 during the Northrop Open House. Students, faculty, staff, and anyone else who is interested in catching a glimpse behind the curtain of the myriad activities that go on at our historic venue are invited between 12:00-9:00 pm. See free performances by Minnesota-based artists, participate in movement and artmaking workshops, and take a tour backstage or high above it to peek at the organ pipes. This is a great opportunity to experience what makes the Northrop and UMN community so special. Stay a little longer and see Zelek in his first concert as the Northrop Organist. (The concert is free for UMN students, but a ticket purchase is required for others. See discounts here.)

As the official Northrop Organist, Zelek will not only perform as resident artist, but also will serve as educator, advisor, curator, and supervisor of ongoing care of Northrop’s spectacular, nearly century-old Aeolian-Skinner Opus 892 pipe organ. This grand instrument is a technical and artistic marvel. Zelek is no stranger to playing revered, historic organs. He served as the summer organist for the San Pedro Apostol Church in Ramales de la Victoria, Spain. As an undergraduate at Julliard, Zelek performed an organ concert at the University of Scranton on their Austin Opus 301 Symphonic organ. Clearly, the Northrop organ is in good hands.

Zelek is a tour de force organist with a very sharp mind. Look carefully, and you’ll see he has no sheet music in front of him. Zelek performs solo concerts from memory. Whether he is performing classics of the organ canon, or versatile new works, he lets his body take the lead, and the music flows out of him. “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).

Born and raised in Miami, Zelek is Cuban American and a native Spanish speaker. He has been honing his musical skills since childhood. When he was only 15, Zelek became the official musical director of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami. Florida is still an important part of his music career, as he continues to play as an ensemble member of the Jacksonville Symphony, and serves as curator of its organ series.