39th Annual Abbey Bach Festival - Church Performances

Wednesday-Friday, July 28-30

6 PM Abbey Church

Wednesday - Paul Klemme, organ

Thursday - Paul Klemme, organ and Gerald Webster, trumpet

Friday - Willamette Master Chorus

           

Paul Klemme-Wednesday

Paul Klemme is presently the Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, Oregon, where he conducts four choirs at the church and serves as the parish organist. He is a member of the adjunct teaching faculty at Willamette University in Salem and conducts the Willamette Master Chorus of Salem. Dr. Klemme recently completed nine years as Associate Professor of Music at Washington State University, Pullman, Washington before moving to Salem. He is active as an organ recitalist in the United States and Europe.

His conducting teachers include: Abraham Kaplan, Lawrence Marsh, and Helmuth Rilling. Organ instruction has been with John Ditto and Robert Glasgow. Paul has completed work on a catalogue of the complete music of the 20th century composer, Henk Badings and has recorded a CD which features Badings' works. Additionally, he and Gerald Webster have recently completed a CD recording of music for trumpet and organ on the Pro Organo label.

Paul Klemme and Gerald Webster-Thursday

Gerald Webster received his BME and MM degrees from Indiana University. A graduate with highest distinction, he was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Fellowship for graduate study. After declining a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship for Doctoral work he served as Solo Trumpet with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York, as well as performing as the founding member of the New York Brass Sextet and as a freelance player throughout the Northeast.

Mr. Webster's command of the trumpet is not limited to the orchestral/band instruments one normally hears. As a collector of over 40 different trumpets, audiences are often treated to the distinctive sounds of the Monette "RAJA" or "AJNA" trumpets, the Natural "Baroque" trumpet, the German rotary valve instruments, early 20th century European flugelhorns, 19th century antique cornets, or the high pitched self-designed piccolo trumpet.

Willamette Master Chorus-Friday

Based in Salem Oregon, the Willamette Master Chorus comprises 75 veteran professional and dedicated amateur musicians. Founded through a joint effort of Lutheran Fine Arts Center and Willamette University, this auditioned choir brings to area audiences the finest in choral masterworks from the Renaissance through the 21st century. The Willamette Master Chorus has performed with the Salem Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, and Portland Youth Philharmonic. National and international performances include a three nation tour in Europe, San Francisco, and most recently as the choir-in-residence for the International Cathedral Music Festival in Salisbury, England.

Program and Artists subject to change.