Organ Recital Series: Christopher Marks

Date: 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 7:30pm

Location: 

The Memorial Church Sanctuary

Christopher MarksChristopher Marks, Assistant Professor of Organ, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Program: Music of Bach, Jongen, Flagler, Bingham, and Knecht

Christopher Marks has been hailed for his “style and assurance” in performance, and is quickly gaining a reputation for creative and friendly programming. His interest and skill with historic American instruments has led to four appearances at conventions of the Organ Historical Society.

Marks is Assistant Professor of organ at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. From 1999 to 2006, he taught organ and served as University Organist at Syracuse University. An active proponent of new music, Marks has premiered a number of commissioned organ works. His diverse stylistic interests also steer him towards a variety of other repertoire, with a recent interest in American organ music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Equally comfortable with solo and collaborative playing, he has performed with ensembles such as the Boston Brass, Ethos Percussion Group, and Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra. He holds degrees from University of Richmond (B.M., piano), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (M.M., piano and M.M., organ), and the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A., organ), where he studied with Michael Farris. His performances have garnered him top prizes in competitions, including the Arthur Poister Competition, the San Marino Competition, the Fort Wayne Competition, and the Mader Competition.

Marks' recording entitled Discoveries was made on the historic Walter Holtkamp organ at Syracuse University and represents his varied musical interests, featuring music spanning four centuries that is rarely performed and recorded. His latest recording is Organ Works of Seth Bingham, Vol. 1 “Unto the Hills”. This critically acclaimed recording is the first of a projected 3-disc set and is the first to be devoted solely to the organ music of Bingham, who was a prominent New York composer and organist. Both recordings are available from the Raven label at www.RavenCD.com

Marks organized the first-ever Pipe Organ Encounter Advanced in Lincoln, July 6-11, 2008. He has participated as a teacher in seven other Pipe Organ Encounters. He currently serves on the Committee on the New Organist for the American Guild of Organists, on the National Council of the Organ Historical Society, and as Director of the Lincoln Organ Showcase.