Pipes Alive! – Juan Mesa, organist

The 2026-2027 Pipes Alive! series continues with Juan Mesa performing on the St. John’s organ on Sunday, November 1, at 12:30pm. This event will be presented in person and by livestream.

The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Checks payable to Music at the Red Door or click here to donate online.

Click here for the livestream.

PROGRAM

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) From Suite Op. 5, Prelude
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654
W. Ralph Driffill (1870-1922) Suite in E Minor

Learn more about St. John’s famed Austin pipe organ.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

A native of Puerto Montt in Chile, Dr. Juan A. Mesa holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and composition from Western Connecticut State University, and both a Master of Music degree in organ performance, early music, and a PhD in Music Theory from Indiana University. His teachers include Stephen Roberts and Christopher Young in organ, Elisabeth Wright harpsichord and continuo, and Todd Wilson and Jeffrey Smith, organ improvisation. Dr. Mesa has performed solo recitals both as an organist and harpsichordist across the US, Canada, Chile, and Argentina, and has collaborated with the Indiana-based Exordium Baroque Ensemble, the Choirs of Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, MYRIAM and In Stile Moderno of Boston, and the University of Notre Dame’s Children’s Choir, among others. Juan is an AGO Regional Competition for Young Organists’ first prize winner, and has performed organ concerts at regional and national AGO conventions and competitions. As a conductor, he has led historically-informed performances of baroque and early classical choral and instrumental repertoire, including all-Bach and all-Buxtehude marathons. Recent engagements include performances for the Bloomington IN Early Music Festival (BLEMF), the Quincy Choral Society, Boston’s Society for Historically Informed Performance (SoHip) concert series, Crescendo of Western CT, and Trinity Church Copley Square, Boston. He is currently College Organist at Wheaton College in Norton, MA, and works as a voicing apprentice and organ technician at Foley-Baker Inc. He is also Interim Music Minister at the First Congregational Church 1652 in Farmington, CT.

Join us for half-hour organ concerts featuring St. John’s magnificent Austin pipe organ, on the first Sunday of the month, October through June, 12:30 p.m. with regional organists. Free!