Mar 11, 2016 3 min read

Many classical composers and instrumentalists over the centuries had pupils who absorbed their styles and techniques and helped perpetuate their legacy. For instance, the French composer and organist Olivier Messiaen had an illustrious group of pupils, including the composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, the producer Quincy Jones and the pianist Peter Hill.

On Sunday, residents of this area will have the opportunity to sample the work of a pupil of Paul Jacobs, the Grammy-winning Washington native who now leads the organ department at the Juilliard School. Isabelle Demers, a 33-year-old professor and head of the organ program at Baylor University in Texas, will be appearing at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair Sunday at 4 p.m. in a concert sponsored by the church and the Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh.

Westminster Presbyterian Church has hosted Jacobs before, most notably his 2000 appearance when he played the organ works of Bach in an hourslong marathon to mark the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death. In a phone conversation earlier this week, Demers said she would be playing something by Bach in the concert, as well as works by Prokofiev and Max Reger.

Hailing from Montreal, Demers studied under Jacobs at the Juilliard School, writing an analysis of Bach’s “St. John Passion” for her doctoral dissertation. Jacobs himself describes Demers as a “‘stealth bomber’ musician – disarming by her wit and friendly demeanor, only to reveal a tornado of technique intertwined with a deep musical sensitivity.”

Demers said Jacobs’ discipline left a lasting impression – despite his accomplishments, he would be up late into the night practicing. She also doggedly continues to work on improving her skills, though Demers says she is “more of a morning person.”

Demers started studying the piano when she was a 6-year-old, and it was her mother who nudged her in the direction of trying the organ. “I didn’t care all that much for it,” Demers said. “I didn’t think I would like the repertoire.” However, Demers was eventually won over, taken by the rich variety of sounds that can come from what has been called “the king of instruments.”

“It’s a more physical instrument in a way,” she explained.

She started to study both the organ and piano at the Montreal Conservatory of Music when she was 11. Before she enrolled at the Juilliard School, Demers also studied in Paris for a year at the Ecole Normale de Paris-Alfred Cortot. Along with playing about 30 concerts a year at various points around the globe, she has also released three albums, featuring works by Reger and organist Rachel Laurin.

For information on the concert, call 412-835-6630 or go online to www.westminster-church.org/events.