Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Christ Church.

Pelham, New York – Concerts at Christ Church, a community outreach of historic Christ Church in Pelham, is co-hosting an organ recital with the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists this coming Sunday afternoon, September 26, at 4 pm. This “Rising Stars” recital will feature three students from the Juilliard School studio of Paul Jacobs performing on the 2019 Jack Hennigan Memorial Juget-Sinclair pipe organ at Christ Church.

The three performers are Cecily DeMarco, who will play works by Preston, J. S. Bach, Widor, and Felix Mendelssohn; Jacob Gruss, playing works by Mathias, Franck, and J. S. Bach; and Eddie Zheng, playing works by Robert Schumann, Bach, and Elgar. The concert is free of charge for members of the Westchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

The public is also invited to attend. A suggested $20 donation per person to help the Guild Chapter defray expenses is requested. Masks will be required to be worn by all who attend. Reservations are required.
Please RSVP to: https://forms.gle/rNxbdDtU5wo9MBkz8.

Christ Church, Pelham is located at 1415 Pelhamdale Avenue (on the corner of Shore Road and Pelhamdale Avenue), Pelham, New York 10803.

Weather-permitting, an outdoor reception will follow the performance.

About the Performers:

Jacob Gruss, a native of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a freshman at The Juilliard School. He will study organ in the studio of world-renowned organist Paul Jacobs. Jacob has already earned recognition for studio and solo recitals through both the Seton Hill University Organ Department and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He enjoys the distinction of being the first organist ever to win the Westmoreland Symphony’s Young Artist Competition and has received financial support for further study from the Pittsburgh Organ Academy Scholarship Fund and the prestigious, nationally recognized Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester

D. Yankee Memorial Scholarship Fund. He served as Director of Music at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Greensburg, PA, as well as Assistant Organist at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish, where he also studied with organist and composer J. Christopher Pardini. He was the 2020-21 Sacred Music Intern at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mt. Lebanon, PA, assisting Director of Music Chaz Bowers with rehearsals, creating support materials for choir and congregation, and playing at Mass. Mr. Gruss studied piano and music theory with Dr. Josie Merlino, and pursued study beyond his formal training, auditing courses in Organ Improvisation and Organ Literature, as well as attending Masterclasses with Dr. John Salverson, Dr. Caroline Robinson, Dr. Gordon Turk, and Dr. Charles Callahan. He is particularly grateful to his organ teacher Chaz Bowers, who, over the past four years provided unwavering support and encouragement and is very excited to be named the Organ Scholar at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, working under Dr. John T King.

Cecily DeMarco was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. Cecily is currently pursuing a degree in Organ Performance at The Juilliard School as a student of Dr. Paul Jacobs. She began studying the organ at age thirteen with Samuel Metzger. Within her first year of study, Cecily provided organ music for the demanding music program at New Presbyterian Church (Wilton Manors). Shortly after, she became Organist at The Chapel at Edgewater Pointe in her hometown. Cecily also studied with Mark Jones at First Presbyterian Church (“The Pink Church” in Pompano Beach) and later, with Dr. Terry Yount at Saint Andrew’s Conservatory (Sanford). She is the First Prize winner in both the New York chapter round and the Northeast regional final round of the 2021 Regional Competition for Young Organists (RCYO). Cecily has performed across central and southeast Florida at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Fort Lauderdale), First Presbyterian Church (“The Pink Church” in Pompano Beach), and Saint Andrew’s Chapel (Sanford). She has also recently given concerts in New York at Hitchcock Presbyterian (Scarsdale), St. Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC), Church of St. Agnes (NYC), and at The Juilliard School (NYC).

Eddie Zheng, a native of New York City, is a BM/MM student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School. He was the winner of the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition, the 2019 Brooklyn AGO Organ Scholarship Competition, and the 2019 AGO Quimby Northeast Regional Competition. Eddie attended the Juilliard Pre-College division for two years, studying with Matthew Lewis. In addition to having performed in cities throughout North America, such as New York (St. Patrick’s Cathedral), New Haven (Church of the Redeemer) Montreal (St. James United) and Eugene (First United Methodist Church), Eddie has performed in China at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, Beijing Concert Hall, and the Beijing Golden Sail Concert Hall. Eddie is currently Artist in Residence at the Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church. He has also held positions as Organ Scholar at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Calvary Baptist Church and Rye Presbyterian Church. When not playing organ, Eddie loves music production, cycling, and gardening.