Equinox
Conductor, organist, pianist, and vocalist. Adam’s deep passion for music began at a young age. His studies include the University of Utah where he studied organ under Dr. Kenneth Udy, sang as a member of the University of Utah Choirs under renowned Dr. Barlow Bradford; Utah Tech University studying organ under Jane Dye, and Dr. Geoffrey Myers; conducting mentorship under Dr. Paul Wein’s; and mentorship under Robert Reimer. In 2014, Adam had the distinct opportunity to travel to Europe to study under master organists, Margaret Phillips in London and Ullrich Bohme in Leipzig, Germany – in the historic St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche).
During his nearly 20-year music career, he has taught piano and organ, conducted choirs and orchestras across Utah, played the organ numerous times both as recitalist and accompanist, and sang in several ensembles. In 2015, he was honored to be selected as a recitalist and organist in the Eucharistic services for the 2015 National Episcopal General Convention in Salt Lake City. Also in 2015, he was appointed as principal organist and assistant Artistic Director of Sterling Singers in Salt Lake City, Utah. While with Sterling Singers, he performed across northern Utah, including the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle. Appointed in 2014, Adam is currently an organist at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2018, Adam co-founded Amavi Chorale with a group of close friends. Since its founding, he has both conducted and accompanied the choir. In 2023, he was appointed as Artistic Director. In June 2023, Adam led Amavi in its 5th anniversary celebratory concert performing Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem” with orchestra and Organ in St. Mark’s Cathedral. He is excited for a bright future with Amavi Chorale!
Kenneth Udy, a native of Salt Lake City, earned his DMA in organ performance from Claremont Graduate University and also studied at the University of Southern California and Utah State University. His organ teachers include Clay Christiansen, James Drake, Cherry Rhodes, and Robert Noehren. A practicing church musician since age 15, he has served since 1991 as Director of Music and Organist at Wasatch Presbyterian Church. He was also organist at Congregation Kol Ami for 25 years and frequently appears as a guest organist at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He previously held posts at multiple churches in southern California.
In 2000 Dr. Udy joined the faculty of the University of Utah where he designed curriculum and helped implement the undergraduate and graduate degrees in organ performance. As University Organist he teaches organ majors and all organ coursework. Recently he assisted with the University’s acquisition of a new Flentrop practice organ. In addition, he maintains a studio of private organ students.
He is active in the Salt Lake City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists as their current Treasurer. He has previously served as Chapter Dean, District Convener, Co-Chairman of the Bi-Regional AGO Convention in June 2003, and an ex-officio board member.
Dr. Udy is the author of Alexander Schreiner: The California Years, a biography on the early career of Mormon Tabernacle organist Alexander Schreiner, published by Harmonie Park Press of Detroit. Last month his edition of six previously unpublished organ pieces by Alexander Schreiner was released by Wayne Leupold Editions. He is currently developing an online reference database for organists, choir directors, and church musicians.
From “Requiem”
Music by Michael John Trotta
Text: Traditional
Dies irae, dies illa,
Solvet Saeclum in favilla.
Dies irae, dies illa,
Teste David cum Sibylla.
Mors stupebit et natura,
Cum resurget creatura,
Judicanti responsura,
Recordare, Jesu pie, Nemeperdas,
Huic ero parce, Deus.
Dona eis requiem.
Salva Me!
Day of wrath, that day…
that day that shall dissolve the earth into embers
as was testified by David and the Sybil.
Death itself and all of nature shall be shocked
when all of creation shall rise to be judged.
Remember me, do not cast me out.
Spare them, grant them rest.
Save me! Save me!
Composed by B. E. Boykin
Jesse Nebeker, Cello
Henrique Souza Gosney, Piano
In time of silver rain
the earth puts forth new life again,
green grasses grow and flowers lift their heads,
in time of silver rain,
and over all the plain the wonder spreads,
it spreads,
of life,
of life,
of life!
In time of silver rain
the butterflies lift silken wings
to catch a rainbow cry,
and trees put forth new leaves to sing
in joy beneath the sky of life,
of life,
of life!
~Langston Hughes (1901-67)
Composed by Anton Bruckner
Virga Jesse floruit:
Virgo Deum et hominem genuit:
pacem Deus reddidit,
in se reconcilians ima summis.
Alleluja.
The rod of Jesse hath blossomed:
a Virgin hath brought forth God and man:
God hath restored peace,
reconciling in Himself the lowest with the highest.
Alleluia.
Arranged by John Rutter
Kenneth Udy, Organ
Original text c.8th Century
Tr. Mary Byrne (1880-1931)
Versified Eleanor Hull
(1860-1935)
Be thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart,
Be all else but naught to me,
save that thou art;
Be thou my best thought
in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping,
thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom,
be thou my true word,
Be thou ever with me
and I with thee, Lord,
Be thou my great Father,
and I thy true son;
Be thou in me dwelling,
and I with thee one.
Be thou my breastplate,
my sword for the fight;
Be thou my whole armour,
be thou my true light;
Be thou my soul’s shelter,
be thou my strong tower;
O raise thou me heavenward,
great Power of my power.
Riches I heed not,
nor man’s empty praise;
Be thou mine inheritance
now and always;
Be thou and thou only the
first in my heart,
O Sov’reign of heaven,
my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven,
thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me it’s joys
after vict’ry is won;
Great heart of my own heart,
whatever befall,
Still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Composed by Sarah Quartel
Kenneth Udy, Organ
Density of light
that could shatter the cold rock of the moon,
compacted flame
that only the face of holy
love could withstand,
may Christ reflect your blaze
to the distant satellite of my heart
and melt the fear
that from the orbit of my days
you would scatter
my dim shards to darkness.
Density of light
compacted flame
sudden lightning,
draw me onward through thick darkness trusting
that light shall spring from the grave
and the coldest rock in space
shall join in a blaze of song:
glory, glory, glory
glory be to you O God.
from “Density of light”
Troeger, Thomas H.,
Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts,
Prayers and Poems (Oxford, 1994)
10-Minute Intermission
Opus 54, No. 6
Composed by Louis Vierne
Kenneth Udy, Organ
Composed by John Stainer (1840-1901)
John 3:16
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
But that the world through Him might be saved.
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
Composed by John Ireland
Kenneth Udy, Organ
Emilie Jones, Soloist
Austin Simcox, Soloist
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can the floods drown it.
Love is strong as death.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life
for his friends.
Who His own Self bare our sins
in His own Body on the tree,
that we being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness.
Ye are wash’d,
Ye are sanctified,
Ye are justified,
in the name of the Lord Jesus;
Ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
That ye should shew forth the praises
of Him who hath call’d you
out of darkness into
His marvelous light.
I beseech you, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies,
a living sacrifice.
Holy, Holy, acceptable unto God.
Which is your reasonable service.
Music by Dan Forrest
Even
After
All this time,
The sun never says to the earth,
“You owe Me.”
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.
~Daniel Ladinsky
from Vesperae solennes de confessore K. 339
Psalm 117
English Version by Alice Parker
Composed by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Adam Hansen, Piano
Erin Taylor, Soloist
Laudate Dominum omnes gentes,
Laudate eum omnes populi.
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus,
et veritas, veritas Domini
manet, manet in aeternum
Gloria patri et filio et spiritui sancto
sicut erat in principio et nunc et
et semper et in saecula saeculorum.
Amen.
Sing praise to God above all ye nations,
Praise Him ye people, all ye souls on earth.
For He hath shown His kindness to ward us
His love and merciful kindness,
and the truth of God lasteth forever,
lasteth, lasteth for all eternity.
Glory to the Father and Son also, and the Holy Spirit,
as it was then and will ever be,
both now and always through the centuries
ever lasting
Amen.
Composed by George Dyson
Kenneth Udy, Organ
My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the lowliness of His hand maiden: For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath magnified me; And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him, throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the might from their seat, And hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things; And the rich He hath sent empty away. He rememb’ring his mercy hath holpen His servant Israel. As He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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