December 9, 2018 - Jelani Eddington
The Rochester Theatre Organ presents Jelani Eddington on December 9, 2018 at 2:30 PM at the Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY.
The Artist
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During the years that Jelani Eddington has given concerts, he has easily established himself as one of the most prominent and sought-after artists on the concert circuit. Jelani has performed in most of the major concert venues throughout the US, has toured extensively abroad, and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including his selection as the ATOS Theatre Organist of the Year in 2001.
Jelani was born in Muncie, IN and grew up in a very musical family. Between the interests of his mother, a professional music teacher of many years, and those of his grandmother, a well-respected piano instructor, it was no surprise when Jelani demonstrated an inclination toward music at a very early age. |
Shortly after beginning piano instruction at the age of four, Jelani began studying classical piano under the direction of his grandmother. At the age of eight, a trip to hear the 4-manual 42-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ installed in the Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis introduced to the sounds of the theatre pipe organ. Soon thereafter, he began to pursue classical organ lessons and ultimately began studying theatre organ under the direction of John Ferguson.
At the age of 13, Jelani won the ATOS Young Theatre Organist Competition, prevailing over competitors ages 13-21 from the US, England, Australia, and New Zealand. Jelani remains the youngest competitor ever to win this title. Jelani went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1996, and later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law School in 1999, after which time he was admitted to practice law in New York and later in Wisconsin.
During the course of his concert career, Jelani has been featured at numerous national and regional ATOS conventions, and has toured extensively throughout the world. He has also produced and marketed over 30 theatre organ albums on some of the best-known and most dynamic instruments in the country.
In 2014, Jelani became the first—and to date only—musician to have a video of his theatre organ performance go “viral.” Within a few short weeks, Jelani’s performance of John William’s Star Wars Symphonic Suite was viewed on YouTube over 1 million times in more than 200 countries around the world. As of 2016, that video has earned more than 2.2 million views worldwide.
At the age of 13, Jelani won the ATOS Young Theatre Organist Competition, prevailing over competitors ages 13-21 from the US, England, Australia, and New Zealand. Jelani remains the youngest competitor ever to win this title. Jelani went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1996, and later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law School in 1999, after which time he was admitted to practice law in New York and later in Wisconsin.
During the course of his concert career, Jelani has been featured at numerous national and regional ATOS conventions, and has toured extensively throughout the world. He has also produced and marketed over 30 theatre organ albums on some of the best-known and most dynamic instruments in the country.
In 2014, Jelani became the first—and to date only—musician to have a video of his theatre organ performance go “viral.” Within a few short weeks, Jelani’s performance of John William’s Star Wars Symphonic Suite was viewed on YouTube over 1 million times in more than 200 countries around the world. As of 2016, that video has earned more than 2.2 million views worldwide.