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April 9, 2024
A very special composer will be coming to Carnegie Hall and debuting a new piece inspired by legendary Catholic poet Francis Thompson's poem "The Hound of Heaven." For those who don't know, Francis Thompson (1859-1907) was English poet whose most famous poem, “The Hound of Heaven,” describes the poet's feelings that God can be likened to a dog hunting down the human soul. the nature of this concert is that pursuit of the human soul by God.
Although S. Andrew Lloyd is not Catholic, Mr. Lloyd's work has been greatly influenced by his faith, and, although and he feels a special connection to Catholicism as well as Francis Thompson's poetry.
S. Andrew Lloyd's music has been described as "monumental, hair-raising and leaving you agape in awe" by Classical Music Sentinel.
On April 9th, renowned opera singer Rachel Willis-Sørensen will perform the world premiere of Mr. Lloyd's "Amaranthine" at the legendary concert hall. Rachel Willis-Sørensen is a regular guest at leading opera houses around the world, will be making her Zankel Hall debut. Zenkel Hall is Carnegies newest venue. A Sony Classical artist, her debut album was released in 2022, and her second, Strauss: Four Last Songs, released this year. Willis-Sørensen will perform the world premiere of S. Andrew Lloyd's Amaranthine,
S. Andrew Lloyd, whose music has been described as “monumental, hair-raising, and leaving you agape in awe” (Classical Music Sentinel), is a concert organist and composer, and the Bess Hieronymus Endowed Fellow and Assistant Professor of Organ and Composition at the University of Texas at San Antonio, as well as the 2019/2020 Marlin K. Jensen Artist in Residence at the University of Utah, having previously worked at the University of North Texas.
Lloyd’s compositions have been performed all over the world including the Cathédrale de Notre Dame and La Trinité in Paris, the National Cathedral in Washington DC, Riverside Church New York, Trinity Church and Methuen Hall Boston, Moscow Catholic Cathedral in Russia, and venues in South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the 2016 and 2018 National AGO Conventions in Houston and Kansas City respectively.
Lloyd’s works have been performed by many notable ensembles and performers including Hungarian pianist Éva Polgár, Rick Bjella and the San Antonio Chamber Choir, Jerry McCoy and the Fort Worth Chorale, Ryan Chatterton and the Choral Artists of Fort Worth, Salt Lake Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott, Steve Durtschi and the Cantorum Chamber Choir, baritone Jeffrey Snider, violinist Julia Bushkova, tenor William Joyner, and soprano Jennifer Youngs.
A recording of Lloyd’s monumental art mass, Christus was released in 2017 on the Neumark label, and featured on Pipedreams public radio in December of 2018.
As an active recitalist, Andrew Lloyd has performed at venues throughout the world including: the Salt Lake Tabernacle, as a featured recitalist on the prestigious Eccles International Organ Festival at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan, La Merced in Panama City, Panama, and venues in Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington State.
You find more details and ticket information here.
Originally from Spokane, WA, Lloyd (b. 1979) earned degrees from the University of North Texas (DMA) the University of Kansas (MM), and Brigham Young University (BM). He studied with the notable composers and organists Forrest Pierce, Jon Nelson, Andrew May, James Worlton, James Higdon, Jesse Eschbach, Douglas Bush, Janet Ahrend, and Barbara Lloyd.
