About The Series
One of Cincinnati’s best kept secrets, the 1929 Grand E.M. Skinner Concert Organ, is the centerpiece for Music in the Museum, a concert series hosted three times a year at Cincinnati Museum Center. We are excited to announce the 2026-2027 Music in the Museum series, and we look forward to sharing the glorious sounds of the organ with you.
From Janelle Gelfand’s Janellesnotes:
Demers provided her own wow factor in her transcription of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite.” She reproduced every orchestral sound of the difficult score on the organ. It was a magical and thrilling performance. In the audience was Michael Barone, host of “Pipedreams” on American Public Media, who told the large crowd assembled, “There is no other organ like this in this kind of setting, anywhere. You have a treasure.” Swedish organist, Johannes Skoog, delivered a magnificent performance in sold-out Music in the Museum concert. He noted that there is nothing like the E. M. Skinner in Europe, calling it one of the great instruments in the world.
About The Instrument
From 1987–2010, the 1929 Grand E. M. Skinner Concert Organ was restored and installed in specially designed organ chambers. The main chambers are located on either side of the Rotunda where it meets the rear concourse. The antiphonal division is over the entrance to the Cincinnati History Museum. The organ has nearly 5,000 pipes played from a console with four manual keyboards.
About The Organists
Caroline Robinson is an Assistant Professor of Organ at the University of Michigan. She is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and received a doctor of musical arts from the Eastman School of Music. She is a laureate of the National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance and holds first prize from the 11th annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival. In addition to numerous US performances, she has performed in England, Denmark, France, Germany and China. Her playing has been broadcast multiple times on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. She has been a featured performer at conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the American Guild of Organists.
Program: Star Fantasy, K. Arakeylan; Allegro Giocoso from Sonata in E-flat major, E. Bairstow; Gospel Prelude on “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” W. Bolcom; Symphonie-Passion, Op. 23, M. Dupré; Harmonies du Soir, Op. 72, No. 1, S. Karg-Elert; “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations, Op. 36, E. Elgar, Grand Choeur Dialogué, E. Gigout; Finale from Organ Symphony in G. Minor, Op. 42, No. 6, C. M. Widor.
With internationally acclaimed saxophonist, Rick VanMatre: Cathedral, K. O’Riordan, and Concierto de Arnjuez for Guitar and Orchestra, J. Rodrigo.
Nathan Laube is Associate Professor of Organ at the Eastman School of Music, an International Consultant in Organ Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, and was on the organ faculty at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, Germany. His extensive recital career includes concert halls of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle, Nashville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Vienna, Hamburg, Berlin, London and Paris. Known for his brilliant playing and creative programming (including his own transcriptions of orchestral works), Mr. Laube has earned high praise from critics and peers alike.
Program: Orpheus, Symphonic Poem No. 4, S. 98, F. Liszt; Phantasia and Fugue, S. 259, F. Liszt; Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue, Op. 149, H. Willan.
With nationally recognized Mezzo-soprano, Stacey Rishoi: Urlicht, from Sym. No. 2, G. Mahler; Mon Coeur s’ouvre a ta voix from Samson & Delila, C. Saint-Saëns; Leibestod from Tristan and Isolde, R. Wagner.
Jean-Baptiste Robin is organist of France’s Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles. He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished French organists, master teachers, and composers of his generation (with over 150 new works to his credit). Robin studied composition and organ at the Conservatoire de Paris, receiving five first prizes. He also studied composition with George Benjamin (King’s College, London), and organ with Louis Robilliard. He serves as Professor of Organ at the Versailles Regional Conservatory of Music and as Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. As a master teacher, he was artist-in-residence at Oberlin
Conservatory and Yale University and gives master classes around the world.
Program: Trois Danses (No. 2), J. Alain; La Mer, C. Debussy; Le mépris, G. Delerue, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, P. Dukas; Après un rêve, G. Fauré; Variations on the Sarabande by Haendel, G. Handel; Trois études vers l’infini, No.2, Rayons Célestes & No.3, Météores, J. B. Robin; Fantasie in C minor, Op. 17, R. Schumann.
With Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Stephan Casurella, Director: Thou, O God, Art Praised in Sion, M. Boyle; Messe Solennelle, J.B. Robin.
