Organ Recital: Stefan Madrzak

Brian Sawyers (b. 1963) Rising Sun Stefan Madrzak (b. 1977) Theme & Variations on “Patroclus, Our Patron Saint” (Soest Anthem) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Prelude & Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847 (arr. S. Madrzak) Joseph Jongen (1873-1953) Papillons noirs, Op. 69, No. 11 (tr. S. Madrzak) Edward Elgar (1857-1934) from Enigma Variations, Op. 36   9. Nimrod (tr. S. Madrzak) Max Reger (1873-1916) Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, Op. 59 Stefan Madrzak was born in Wesel, Germany, in the Lower Rhine area. He is an organist, arranger and improviser. He is the organist and cantor at St. Patrocluses’ Cathedral, in Soest (North Rhine-Westphalia), where he was appointed in 2009. He also performs concerts. After studying church music in Aachen, he went on to pursue postgraduate studies with Professor Johannes Geffert at the Cologne University of Music, where he finished with a diploma in organ playing. Further private studies in improvisation were with Ansgar Wallenhorst in Ratingen. He has played solo concerts in many European churches and cathedrals, including St. Michael's Church (Hamburg) and the cathedrals of Berlin, Antwerp, Tallinn and Troyes. During the Covid lockdown he was a leading figure in producing a documentary on how organs work. This documentary can be found on his website. Recordings of his virtuosity as a soloist or in duet with drummer Guenter Boenner have been released on CD. For more information, visit: www.stefan-madrzak.de