CIM Organ Studio

Outstanding conservatory musicians from the Cleveland Institute of Music in the studio of acclaimed organist Todd Wilson present an afternoon recital of works for solo organ on the museum’s McMyler Memorial Organ.

Program

“Mors et Resurrectio,” from Trois Paraphrases                 Jean Langlais
Grégoriennes, op. 5, no. 1                                                     (1907–1991)

                                             Hunter Peterson

Chaconne in C Minor, BuxWV 159                                  Dieterich Buxtehude
                                                                                             (1637–1707)
Prélude pour Orgue, op. 78                                             Cécile Chaminade
                                                                                             (1857–1944)
                                               Alisdair Welty

Two Schübler Chorale Preludes                                      Johann Sebastian Bach
   Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 648                       (1685–1750)
   Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, BWV 650
Prelude, Fugue, and Variation, op. 18                            César Franck
                                                                                             (1822–1890)
                                                Philip Sotak

Plymouth Suite                                                               Percy Whitlock
  Salix                                                                                   (1903–1946)
  Chanty
  Allegro risoluto
                                                Carolyn Hoff

Prelude and Fugue on the Name of BACH, S. 260        Franz Liszt
                                                                                            (1811–1886)
                                                 Kelsey Berg  
 

Hunter Peterson is a second-year master of music student at CIM. He is director of music and organist at Trinity United Church of Christ in Wadsworth. He holds a bachelor of music degree in organ performance with a concentration in composition from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Away from the keyboard, he enjoys exploring nature and spending time with friends and family.

Alisdair Welty is a first-year student in the organ studio at CIM, studying with Todd Wilson. Ali’s unique repertoire of underplayed music by both popular and underrepresented composers reflects his desire to showcase the diversity of classical music and the expansiveness of the organ repertoire. His special love for 20th-century music has both shocked and delighted audiences.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Philip Sotak is a first-year organ major at CIM. In addition to music, he is an award-winning swimmer and enjoys baking.

Carolyn Hoff is a fourth-year undergraduate student at CIM. In 2025, she was named an AGO Rising Star, and she is performing at this summer’s AGO National Convention in St. Louis. She works at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights and is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied with Tom Bara. Other previous instructors include Monica Berney and Dr. Jeffery Smith. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and sewing.

Dr. Kelsey Berg is a guest lecturer in organ for the Joint Music Program between CIM and Case Western Reserve University. She recently graduated from CIM, where she studied with Todd Wilson. This semester, Kelsey was appointed as lecturer in music theory at Baldwin Wallace University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. She currently serves as assistant organist-choirmaster at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron.

The views expressed by performers during this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Museum of Art.