The Concert Hall Organ Inaugural Series Continues This Semester With Four Performances by BYU School of Music Faculty and Students. Special Guests Include Current and Emeritus Salt Lake Tabernacle Organists.
The Concert Hall Organ Inaugural Series continues this winter semester with four concerts centered around the Music Building’s new Létourneau organ. The organ has 81 ranks of pipes, making it the third largest pipe organ in Utah, behind the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the Conference Center organs.
“The deep tones of the 32' pipes penetrate the soul of the listener,” said School of Music faculty member Neil Harmon, who will be performing with the BYU Philharmonic. “The dynamic range of the instrument is wider than any other musical instrument. From the softest sound — as quiet as a whisper — to the powerful, almost overwhelming volume of the full organ, and everything in between, this organ has it all. There is not another place in the state of Utah where you can experience the pipe organ quite like this.”
Throughout the semester, audiences will have the opportunity to experience the all-encompassing sounds of the organ during alumni and student concerts. Faculty member Neil Harmon will be performing the famed “Organ Symphony,” Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. The Concert Hall will also host current and emeritus Salt Lake Tabernacle organists including Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, Brian Mathias, Linda Margetts, Joseph Peeples, John Longhurst, Clay Christiansen and Bonnie Goodliffe in a recital.
Want to learn more about this state-of-the-art instrument? Read more about the organ here and the inaugural series here.
Organ Alumni Recital
Date & Time: Friday, February 7, 2025 - 7:30 pm
Location: Music Building Concert Hall
Price: Free
Tickets: Non-ticketed
Livestream: View live stream of this concert
A few outstanding BYU alumni will perform some of their favorite works on an organ that they could have only dreamed of during their years as organ majors.
Salt Lake Tabernacle Organists Recital
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 7:30 pm
Location: Music Building Concert Hall
Price: Starting at $10
Tickets: Available online at BYU OnStage
Livestream: View live stream of this concert
This concert features all current and emeritus Salt Lake Tabernacle organists trying their hands and feet at the new Létourneau concert organ. Performers include Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, Brian Mathias, Linda Margetts, Joseph Peeples, John Longhurst, Clay Christiansen and Bonnie Goodliffe. All of the organists have a strong connection to BYU, either as alumni or former School of Music faculty.
"All eight of us are honored and thrilled to have been invited to participate in the series of events inaugurating the new Letourneau organ in BYU’s beautiful concert hall,” said Richard Elliott. “Those who attend or watch the concert online will hear a wide variety of music, including a number of selections with connections to past BYU organ professors.”
Elliott also said that current BYU organ professor Don Cook will also join the concert, performing a “recently ‘discovered’ piece for three organists, authored by the heretofore unknown B.Y.U. (Bernd Yannik Uwe) Bach, titled ‘Kuguargesang’ (‘Song of the Cougar’).”
BYU Philharmonic: Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, “Organ Symphony”
Date & Time: Saturday, April 12, 2025 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Music Building Concert Hall
Price: Starting at $10
Tickets: Available online at BYU OnStage
Livestream: View live stream of this concert
Celebrate the BYU Philharmonic’s final concert of the season, showcasing faculty member Neil Harmon performing Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3, the “Organ Symphony.” This symphony features the organ in two of its four movements. The organ plays in dialogue with the orchestra.
“This symphony is an exciting work because of the unique sound of the organ that no other musical instruments make,” said Harmon. “The ‘Organ Symphony’ is an iconic work, certainly one of Saint-Saëns’ most loved works.”
This performance marks the culmination of the Concert Hall organ’s inaugural year, heralding many more spectacular performances to come.
“Playing the new Concert Hall organ last semester [and again this semester] was a dream come true,” said Neil Harmon. “For many decades, BYU has not had a performance instrument for organists. The new Letourneau Organ is a world-class instrument, the crown jewel of the BYU Music Building.”
Organ Student Recital
Date & Time: Monday, April 14, 2025 - 5:30 pm
Location: Music Building Concert Hall
Price: Free Event
Tickets: Non-ticketed
Livestream: View live stream of this concert
This recital will feature students from BYU’s respected organ department.
