About the Artists

Alan Morrison, the superlative artist” (Sequenza21.com)

Alan Morrison, organist

Critically acclaimed for his “colorful and thrilling playing” (The American Organist) and “unsurpassed technical virtuosity” (The American Organist), Atlanta native Alan Morrison reveals his exceptional musicianship in masterful performances of music both familiar and new.

“His strengths are clarity, poetry, precision and coloristic sensitivity,” observes The Atlanta Journal Constitution. As well, “Alan Morrison knows a thing or two about igniting audience passions” (Fanfare).

“Organist produces a joyful performance,” headlines The Plain Dealer of his Cleveland recital; “he communicated a sense of pleasure that lifted the music beyond the notes.”

With degrees in organ performance and piano accompanying from The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School of Music, Morrison is a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and champion of American composers, with more than a dozen important premieres to his credit.

Alan Morrison holds The McGehee Family Organist Residency at Spivey Hall.

David Coucheron, violin

Climbing assuredly to the upper region of his instrument, violinist David Coucheron lightly, delicately unfurled a vertiginous series of notes that hung in the air” (The Atlanta Journal Constitution)

David Coucheron joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Concertmaster in September 2010. At the time, he was the youngest concertmaster among any major U.S. orchestra.

Throughout his career, Coucheron has worked with conductors Robert Spano, Michael Tilson Thomas, Simon Rattle, Mstislav Rostropovich and Charles Dutoit, among others. He has performed as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. 

Coucheron has given solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Olympic Winter Games (Salt Lake City, Utah), as well as in Beograd, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Serbia, Singapore and Shanghai. His chamber music performances have included appearances at Suntory Hall as well as Wigmore Hall and Alice Tully Hall. Coucheron serves as the Artistic Director for the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival in his hometown of Oslo, Norway. He is also on the artist-faculty for the Aspen Music Festival and Brevard Music Festival.

An active recording artist, recordings with sister and pianist Julie Coucheron include “David and Julie” (Naxos/Mudi) and “Debut” (Naxos). He is also the featured soloist on the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, which was released on ASO Media in Fall 2014.

Coucheron began playing the violin at age three. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from The Curtis Institute of Music, his Master of Music from The Juilliard School and his Master of Musical Performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with teachers including Igor Ozim, Aaron Rosand, Lewis Kaplan and David Takeno. Coucheron plays a 1725 Stradivarius, on kind loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.

Pre-concert Talk

Pre-concert Talk with Alan Morrison on stage at 2:15pm.

Spivey Hall’s organist in residence Alan Morrison gives engaging, insightful talks about the music. These talks begin forty-five prior to concert time for selected Organ series concerts and are free for all ticket-holders.

Concert Program

“A Dance through Time”

J.S. BACH  “Gigue” Fugue, BWV 577

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE  Passacaglia, BuxWV 161 

Three Italian Renaissance Dances published by Antonio Gardane (Venice 1551)
     Saltarello del Re
     Le forze d’hercole
     Pass’e mezzo antico

Tommaso VITALI  Ciaconna 

Sigfried KARG-ELERT  Valse Mignon 

Jonathan DOVE  Dancing Pipes 

Calvin HAMPTON  Five Dances for Organ 
     Primitives
     At the ballet
     Those Americans
     An exalted ritual
     Everyone Dance