REXBURG, Idaho — The BYU-Idaho Symphony Orchestra performed the world premiere of "Concerto for Organ and Orchestra" by composer Daniel Gawthrop featuring Mormon Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott in Rexburg and Salt Lake City.
The Rexburg performances were Nov. 18 and Nov. 20, in the Ruth H. Barrus Concert Hall of the Eliza R. Snow Center for the Performing Arts. The symphony orchestra also presented the program Nov. 19, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
The original piece was commissioned by BYU-Idaho to celebrate the renovation and expansion of the 80-rank Ruffatti pipe organ in the Barrus Concert Hall. Under the direction of Kevin Call,
director of orchestras and associate dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at BYU-Idaho, the symphony also performed another piece by Gawthrop based on the hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints" entitled "A Latter-day Overture" and "Firebird" by Igor Stravinsky.
Dallin Hansen, a new BYU-Idaho Department of Music faculty member and Rexburg native, performed a violin solo in "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" by Saint-Saens with the orchestra. He teaches violin, directs the university orchestra and performs with the Faculty Serenata Strings Quartet.
