WNYCO to present world premiere of ‘Angels & Demons’ concerto

“Angels & Demons,” a concerto for organ, string orchestra and percussion, will be performed by the Western New York Chamber Orchestra at King Concert Hall on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m.

Garrett Martin, organist and choirmaster at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, will perform “Angels & Demons,” which was composed by WNYCO Artistic Director and Conductor Glen Cortese. The concerto is structured around archangels: Gabriel, Raphael, Michael and, of course, the fallen angel himself, Lucifer.

“The unseen war that rages between the forces of good and evil and humankind caught in the in-between inspired me to compose ‘Angels & Demons,’” Mr. Cortese explained.

The concerto will be heard alongside Gustav Holst’s “St. Paul’s Suite” (Op. 29, No.2) and Antonio Salieri’s “Emperor” Mass (No. 1 in D major). The Chamber Choir and alumni soloists from Fredonia, under the direction of Dr. Vernon Huff, will also perform. Aurora DePaul (soprano), Mariami Bukari (mezzo-soprano), James Judd (tenor) and Michael Manganiello (bass) are the featured soloists for the mass.

The Fredonia performance will showcase the Schickler pipe organ in King Concert Hall, the largest college pipe organ in Western New York. Admission is $20 for adults and free to students with a valid college identification.

The concert will also be presented at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, on Friday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. “It is an honor to join with WNYCO to present the premiere performance of ‘Angels and Demons,’ an exuberant and imaginative showpiece,” Mr. Martin said. “It is an appropriate way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Westminster’s incredible Aeolian-Skinner Pipe organ. The organ, one of the finest in Western New York, will shine in this stunning new concerto.”

For more information, visit www.wnychamberorchestra.com.

The Western New York Chamber Orchestra is the professional musical ensemble-in-residence at the Fredonia School of Music. Musicians include faculty members of the School of Music and professional musicians from Buffalo, Rochester and Erie, Pa. The Westminster Friends of Music supports music and concert programming of Westminster Presbyterian Church attracts world class artists for services, concerts and recitals.