A featured star in the PBS documentary Pipe Dreams (2019), Alcee Chriss III is an organist and keyboardist from Fort Worth, TX. Winner of the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition and Firmin Swinnen Silver Medalist at the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, he is widely regarded as one of the leading young organists of our time.

Dr. Chriss has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and France. Recent and upcoming performances include the International Orgelsommer (Stuttgart, Germany), Stockholm City Hall (Sweden), Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Washington National Cathedral, John F. Kennedy Center, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Francis Winspear Centre for Music in Edmonton, and performances as concerto soloist in Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra with the Montreal Symphony, among others.

In October 2019, Alcee was awarded his Doctor of Music degree from McGill University, where he studied with Hans-Ola Ericsson. He previously studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received his Master’s degree in historical keyboard and a Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance. At Oberlin, he studied organ with James David Christie and Olivier Latry, improvisation with Marie-Louise Langlais, and harpsichord and continuo playing with Webb Wiggins and Hank Knox.

In July 2019, Dr. Chriss was appointed University Organist and Artist-in-Residence at Wesleyan University, where he teaches courses in organ and applied music. Dr. Chriss is also active as a church musician and guest lecturer, and he remains engaged with his lifelong love of gospel and jazz music. He is currently Assistant Organist at Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City, and serves on the editorial board of Vox Humana magazine.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata in D Minor, BWV 913 (trans. Alcée Chriss III)
I. Presto
II. Thema

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Entrée de Polymnie from Les Boréades

César Franck (1822-1890)
‍ ‍ Symphony in D Minor, M. 48 (trans. Calvin Hampton / Alcée Chriss III)
II. Allegretto

Jean Guillou (1930-2019)
‍ ‍ Toccata, Op. 9

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Mazeppa, Symphonic Poem No. 6, S. 100 (trans. Alcée Chriss III / Rashaan Allwood)
III. Allegro

Alcée Chriss (b. 1992)
‍ ‍ Improvisation on American Folk Tunes

Gaston Litaize (1909-1991)
‍ ‍ Scherzo

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
‍ ‍ Suite for Organ, Op. 5
Prélude
Sicilienne
Toccata