Southport, CT – Alan Murchie, former Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church, joins local award-winning pianist Alex Beyer and vocalist Katherine Waugh for a benefit concert in Pequot Library's Concert Hall, Saturday, January 11, 2014, from 8:00pm - 10:00pm. Proceeds help fund Pequot Library's music programs for adults and children. Discount tickets available for students, and in advance, at www.pequotlibrary.org; at the door, general admission price.
Murchie is the Organist and Choirmaster at St. John's Church in Washington, CT. He will play "piano four hands" with Alex Beyer. Piano four hands is a term frequently applied in American usage to a specific form of piano duet, for a single piano with two players.
Murchie joined St. John's staff as Organist Choir Master in November 2011. He graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, NH, and from Yale College, summa cum laude. In 2004, Murchie returned to New Haven to attend Yale Divinity School and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale from which he graduated in 2007 with a M. Div and a Certificate in Anglican Studies. Concurrently, Murchie obtained a Certificate in Church Music from the Institute of Sacred Music.
Prior to joining St. John's, Murchie served as Director of Music (1992–1999) for St. James Church (Madison Avenue) in New York City; Director of Music at Christ Church, Rye, NY (2000-2003); and most recently Director of Music and Pastoral Associate for Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, CT (2007-June 2011). He was the Artistic Director of the Southport Summer Music Festival. His own early musical experience was as a member of the renowned St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys.
Murchie is a versatile musician with a particular love and recognized talent as a solo pianist. In addition to his services at St. John's, Murchie continues his teaching as Adjunct Professor of Music History at Fairfield University.
Local pianist, Alex Beyer was heralded as a "sensation" with "formidable technique" by the Hartford Courant. Fairfield Warde High School graduate, Beyer has acquired an impressive array of prestigious concert appearances nationally and internationally. His debut with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony was deemed "one of the most spectacular debuts with the symphony" by the Connecticut Post. He has been a guest soloist with the New Haven, Hartford, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Thayer and Waterbury Symphony Orchestras. He was a 2012 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Eastonite, Katherine Waugh plays clarinet, tenor sax and piano, but it is as a vocalist that Waugh truly excels. A member of her church and school choirs from an early age, Waugh is currently a member of the Barlow Select Choir and A Cappella singing groups and will perform with the Western Regional High School Choir in January. Since 2007, she has been a member and soloist with the Fairfield County Children's Choir, appearing with them at Tanglewood, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and the Rudolfinum in Prague. Since 2008, Waugh has been in demand as a National Anthem vocalist in various locales including the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Bluefish, the Orleans, Cape Cod Firebirds, the NHL and in January 2014, the NBA. She studies voice with Stephanie Gregory. She has donated her time and talents to raise money for Sandy Hook in the Concert for Newtown, Music for Youth and typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines.
For tickets go to www.pequotlibrary.org. Pequot Library Association members' tickets are $20.00/ea. Advanced online sales - $20.00/ea. Students - $15.00/ea. and General Admission at the door - $25.00/ea.
Please visit www.pequotlibrary.org to learn more about this vibrant library, educational, arts and cultural institution. All classes and programs are open to everyone. For information: (203) 259-0346 ext. 15.