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Notre-Dame organist Latry to perform concert at Piedmont (10-15-05) Olivier Latry, world-renowned organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, will perform a concert at Piedmont College Oct. 28, with proceeds going toward relief for victims of hurricane Katrina. The 7:30 p.m. concert, featuring the college's 3,675-pipe Sewell Organ, will be held in the Center for Worship and Music at the main campus in Demorest. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Piedmont faculty, staff, and students are admitted free. "Latry is an incredible performer and continues the French tradition of improvisation -- creating a composition spontaneously from a theme which is given to him on the spot," said Piedmont organist Dr. James Mellichamp. "If you've never heard anyone do this, you're in for a fantastic treat." For the Piedmont performance, Latry will also play works by J.S. Bach, César Frank, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne, Maurice Duruflé, and Jehan Alain. Mellichamp said proceeds from the concert will go to the Northeast Georgia Disaster Relief Team, which sends volunteers from the northeast Georgia area to assist hurricane victims along the gulf coast. Born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in 1962, Latry began studying piano at age of 7 and the organ at age 12. He later attended the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, studying organ with Gaston Litaize. From 1981-1985 Latry was organist of Meaux Cathedral, and at age 23 he won a competition to become one of the three organists of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. From 1990-1995 he taught organ at the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, and since 1995 he has taught at the Paris Conservatory. Latry has performed in more than 40 countries on five continents, appearing most often in the United States. He made his first American tour during the fall of 1986 and has subsequently made annual tours to the U.S., playing recitals in major cities coast to coast, as well as in cities throughout Canada. -30- |
