Juilliard Organist David Ball to perform at The University of Scranton
Performance Music at The University of Scranton will present organist David Ball “In Recital” on Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan-McLean Center. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., David Ball will graduate from The Juilliard School in May, where he studies with the legendary Paul Jacobs, and was one of the featured soloists on a recital hosted by PipeDreams’ Michael Barone at Alice Tully Hall. He serves as the assistant musician at St. Malachy’s, The Actors’ Chapel in Manhattan.
Ball won the 2011 Kansas City AGO Chapter’s Competition for Young Organists and is the recipient of the rarely-conferred Outstanding Student Award from the St. Louis Chapter of the AGO. He previously served as organ scholar at the landmark Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and was a student of Cathedral Basilica organist and director of music, Dr. John A. Romeri. At the Basilica, Ball assisted with the accompaniment of the Cathedral, Archdiocesan, and Children’s Choirs. Through the Choir’s affiliation with the American Federation Pueri Contores, he has played at events in Rome, St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Ball’s performance will showcase the University’s Austin opus # 301 symphonic organ, which was restored and renovated in January of 2006. Built in 1910 for Immanuel Baptist Church in Scranton, the building (and organ) was purchased by the University in 1986, and now houses Performance Music at Scranton. The instrument is a classic 20th century pre-WWII symphonic organ, and was restored by Patrick J. Murphy and Associates, Inc. The instrument includes 3,178 pipes, 45 ranks, and 4 manuals.