Virtuoso Katelyn Emerson plays organ in Artist Series at St. Paul's

In an interview with The Diapason, a magazine for people who build or play organs, musician Katelyn Emerson once said playing organ was a challenge "because I've had to work with my rather small hands and short stature. I frequently struggle to reach the pedals or top manuals."

But that certainly didn't hinder her from winning the 2016 American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition. Or the Jean Boyer Award in the 2014 Fifth International Organ Competition in France. Or finishing second in the 2015 Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition in Syracuse, N.Y.

Chattanoogans have the opportunity to hear this virtuoso on Friday night, Feb. 17, when she performs in the next concert of the Artist Series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

"Katelyn's program will showcase both her talent and the many colors of St. Paul's Casavant organ, the largest in Chattanooga," says Keith Reas, organist and music director at the church.

"Beginning with North German masters Bach and his mentor, Buxtehude, she will highlight German/Austrian organ music of the 18th and 19th centuries with works by Mozart and Schumann," he says.

Reas says the second half of the program is "ideally suited to the French colors of the Casavant - reeds and overtones, including virtuosic works from the 19th and 20th centuries by great organ masters Boely, Durufle, Tournemire, Langlais and Widor."

While Emerson is in town, the Chattanooga chapter of the American Guild of Organists is tapping her knowledge for a free master class that is open to the public. Emerson will speak at the church tonight, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m. Her topic will be "Registering Historic Organ Works on Contemporary American Organs."

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.