The 2013 Academy will take place June 10-14.
Five Days of Artistic Study for students
and experienced performers
General Description
The Ascension Organ Academy is held at the Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street, New York City, which is located in Greenwich Village and is easily accessible by public transportation.
The Academy offers a select number of participants (maximum 8) five days of personalized, artistic study in two daily masterclasses taught by Dennis Keene and Jon Gillock. All participants will take part in both classes. Auditors who do not perform are also welcome.
Each participant will arrive at the Academy prepared to perform 2 pieces to study during the Academy, one from each of the two repertory classes listed below. In the case of French baroque repertoire, where movements are often short (such as in a Mass or a Suite), this could include a group pieces. Each participant will perform every day in one of the two classes.
The Academy is centered around the new organ just installed by Pascal Quoirin of Saint-Didier, France. It is the first significant French organ in the United States and is an instrument designed to play all repertoire from early baroque to contemporary. See description of organ and stoplist here.
Each participant will have practice time each day on the Quoirin organ to prepare for the classes. Morning and early afternoon will be devoted to practice. Classes will be held in the late afternoon and early evening. Practicing will begin on Monday morning, June 10, times to be arranged ahead of time by Email. (There may be additional practice times available before June 10, for those who arrive early or live in the NYC area.) The first class will be Monday afternoon, June 10 at 2:00 pm, and the final class will be on Friday evening.
Repertoire
Dennis Keene's class: Suggested repertoire:
- Bach: Request what piece you would like to play
- Titelouze: Veni Creator or Exultet Coelum
- Couperin: Convent Mass or Offertoire from Parish Mass
- Marchand: Grand Dialogue in C or Premier Livre d'Orgue
- Grigny: Récit de tierce en taille from Mass
- Guilain: Suite du Premier ton
- Duruflé: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain; Prélude, Adagio et Choral varié sur le Veni Creator; Scherzo; Prélude from Suite, Op. 5
- Tournemire: (transcribed Duruflé): Victimae paschali
Jon Gillock's class: French 19th and 20th century composers
Suggested repertoire:
- César Franck: Any of the 12 major pieces
- Louis Vierne: Any movement from Symphonies I, II and IV, and the Adagio from Symphonie III; and Clair de Lune and Impromptu
- Olivier Messiaen: Any piece
- Tournemire: Te Deum (transcribed Duruflé); Offertoire from L'Orgue Mystique III (Noel)
- Brahms: Fugue in A-flat Minor
It is possible to request other repertoire.
Fees
Participants: $450
Auditors: $250 for the entire week or $75 per day
How to apply
Participants:
1. Complete online application form.
2. Send recordings of two contrasting pieces of your own choosing. These do not have to be the pieces you want to study. (Participants of the 2011 and 2012 Academies do not need to send recordings.)
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by Email. After being accepted, we will ask you to send the fee in order to reserve your place. When all places have been filled we will send you a complete repertoire list so that you may bring your scores to the Academy.
Auditors: may arrange their participation up to one week before the start of the Academy. Download the Word.doc application form, print and complete it, and mail it with your check. Last minute auditors may call the office 212-254-8620 or email to inquire about availability.
Housing
Everyone is responsible for his/her own housing, which should be fairly easy to arrange through the internet. There is also a list of possible housing near the church which you can request.
Questions
Dennis Keene: Email or 212-254-8620
Jon Gillock: Email