University Organist Moonlights as Count Dracula

University Organist Timothy Albrecht discusses his upcoming Halloween-themed concert and the organ program at Emory.

Scary Ride!
Sat., Oct. 30, 2010
8-9 p.m.
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emerson Concert Hall 

Timothy Albrecht (“Count Dracula”) returns amid thunder, lightning, smoke, ghouls and gargoyles for the third rendition of his Halloween organ concert, Scary Ride! , featuring selections from Phantom of the Opera and Messiaen’s The Apparition.  Scary Ride! embraces the power of the organ and the spirit of Halloween to spook all ages.

The concert is inspired by days long ago when Albrecht took his daughter trick-or-treating.  As they waited for candy on the doorstep, he could hear organ music floating out of many of the houses.  In 2007 he brought Halloween’s background music to life with the first Scary Ride!, and as the years have passed the program has escalated not only in popularity, but in production value.

Scary Ride! offers a full-scale Halloween experience.  Audience members can look forward to walking into a transformed Emerson Concert Hall.  Tombstones are scattered throughout the choir loft, and the Schwartz Center technical staff provides thunder and lightning effects to set the mood.  “There’s quite a show before the 8 p.m. curtain,” states Albrecht.  In addition to pre-show effects, the graduate organ students take part in the concert by providing eerie choreography and screams from the organ loft.  Albrecht refers to them as “marionettes pulled from above,” who give the program an element of surprise.

For the first concert in 2007, Albrecht boasted only a small black cape, and Hunter Hanger of the Theater Studies department offered to do his makeup.  However, each year the scale of the concert has become grander.  This year Albrecht says, “there are more sound effects, more props – the first year there was no smoke – now it’s like a rock concert when I enter the organ loft.” 

When asked what excites him most about the performance, Albrecht remarks, “It’s the only time the organist is shown on a projection screen on stage.  People actually get to see the organ and the organist in action.”  Since organists are most often situated with their backs to the spectator, Scary Ride! provides a unique opportunity to connect with the audience.  However, even when his face isn’t projected onto the wall, Albrecht shares an inside joke with his followers.  “I always wear red socks,” he says.  “It’s my signature.”

When not moonlighting as Count Dracula, Timothy Albrecht serves as the University Organist and teaches in the graduate organ program.  He has been at Emory for what he refers to as “forever,” or as others know it, 28 years.  During his tenure, Albrecht was part of the planning and the 2005 installation of the $1.3 million Jaeckel organ in the Schwartz Center’s Emerson Concert Hall.  “I had been working on this project with University Vice President and Secretary Rosemary Magee and organ builder Daniel Jaeckel for almost fifteen years,” says Albrecht.  As the final component of the Schwartz Center, Albrecht was thrilled with the results.  “It tonally and visually fits in well.” 

In addition to Scary Ride! there are many more opportunities to see Timothy Albrecht and his red socks perform as part of the University Organist Recital Series.  In February, Albrecht will perform in the The Bach Bowl! on Super Bowl Sunday with fellow music colleagues, Tamara Albrecht (his wife) and William and Keiko Ransom showcasing the genius of composer Johann Sebastian Bach.  And on March 21, Bach’s birthday, Albrecht will begin a four-year series of birthday recitals at Glenn Auditorium where he will perform the whole of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier.

As All Hallows’ Eve approaches, be sure to leave October 30 open, for you won’t want to miss Timothy Albrecht, red socks and all, on his night of musical terror.  And don’t be afraid, because as Count Dracula says, “it’s fun to be scared.”

Edited by Kristen Gwock
Communications Coordinator
Center for Creativity & Arts