Post-Compline Organ Music: A favorite Seattle late-night musical offering, now offered monthly
For many year, the Office of Compline at Saint Mark's was followed by a brief program of organ music on The Mighty Flentrop. These informal mini-concerts have introduced generations of Seattleites to the power and beauty of a real pipe organ. All are welcome to listen in the nave, or join the organist in the loft to see what playing an instrument of this size is really like. (The radio program The Organ Loft, which airs on KING-FM immediately following Compline each week, was inspired by this tradition.)
Now presented under the auspices of the Saint Mark's Music Series, these recitals were relaunched as Organ by Night and are offered once a month, on the third Sunday of each month. Attendees may listen from the nave or join the organist in the loft. A Q&A with the organist follows the performance.
Note: The decision to include these informal presentations on the Compline livestream is left to the discretion of the organist. Some prefer not to, for a variety or reasons. The choice to livestream Organ by Night or not will typically not be announced in advance.
Upcoming Recitalists:
2026
- JULY 19: Ralph Holtzhauser, Diocesan Music Director for the Diocese of Youngstown and Music Director of the Cathedral of St. Columba, Ohio
- AUGUST 16: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- SEPTEMBER 20: Kyle Haugen, Cantor at Queen Anne Lutheran Church, Seattle
- OCTOBER 18: Geoffrey Liu, Organist at Kent United Methodist Church
- NOVEMBER 15: Tyleen Stults, Music Director at Zion Lutheran Church, Snohomish
- DECEMBER 20: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
2027
- JANUARY 17: Paul Meier, Interim Director of Music and Organist at St. Thomas, Medina
- FEBRUARY 21: James Walton, Organ Scholar at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland
- MARCH 21: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- APRIL 18: Sheila Bristow, Music Director & Organist at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Bainbridge
- MAY 16: Christopher Stroh, Associate Organist at St. James Cathedral
- JUNE 20: Susanna Valleau, Director of Music at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
- JULY 18: Stephen Price, Fritts Faculty Fellow and Artist-in-Residence and head of organ studies at the University of Washington
- AUGUST 15: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
Past Recitalists:
2026:
- JANUARY 18: Wyatt Smith, Instructor of Organ & Harpsichord, Epiphany Music Academy
- FEBRUARY 15: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- MARCH 15: Kyle Haugen, Cantor, Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle
- APRIL 19: Shari Shull, Minister of Music at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, Gig Harbor
- MAY 17: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- JUNE 21: Susanna Valleau, Director of Music, Saint Dunstan's, Shoreline
2025:
- DECEMBER 21: Christopher Stroh, Assistant Director of Music and Organist, St. James (RC) Cathedral, Seattle
- NOVEMBER 16: Paul Meier, Organist, St. Thomas of Medina, Bellevue
- OCTOBER 19: Martha Freitag, Freelance Organist in the greater Seattle area
- SEPTEMBER 21: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- AUGUST 17: Mark McDonald, Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC
- JULY 20: Wyatt Smith, Instructor of Organ & Harpsichord, Epiphany Music Academy
- JUNE 15: Shari Shull, Minister of Music at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, Gig Harbor
- MAY 18: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- APRIL 20: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- MARCH 16: Kyle Haugen, Cantor, Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle
- FEBRUARY 16: Amiel Elfert, Organ Scholar, Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria BC
- JANUARY 19, 2025: Michael Plagerman, Director of Sacred Music, The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Seattle
2024:
- DECEMBER 15: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon Musician, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- NOVEMBER 17: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- OCTOBER 20: Susanna Valleau, Director of Music, Saint Dunstan's, Shoreline
- SEPTEMBER 15: Christopher Stroh, Assistant Director of Music and Organist, St. James (RC) Cathedral, Seattle
- AUGUST 18: Stephen Price, Artist-in-Residence and Head of Organ Studies, University of Washington
- JULY 21: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- JUNE 16: Julian Petrallia, Assistant Director of Music at Epiphany Parish
- MAY 19: Wyatt Smith, Instructor of Organ & Harpsichord, Epiphany Music Academy
- APRIL 21: Christopher Stroh, Assistant Director of Music and Organist, St. James (RC) Cathedral, Seattle
- MARCH 17: Kyle Haugen, Cantor, Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle
- FEBRUARY 18: Susanna Valleau, Director of Music, Saint Dunstan's, Shoreline
- JANUARY 21: Alan Lynch, Music Director at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Federal Way
2023:
- DECEMBER 17: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- NOVEMBER 19: Michael Plagerman, Director of Sacred Music, Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Seattle
- OCTOBER 15: Amiel Elfert, Organ Scholar of Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC
- SEPTEMBER 17: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon for Cathedral Music at Saint Mark's Cathedral
- AUGUST 20: Alan Lynch, Music Director at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Federal Way
- JULY 16: Michael Kleinschmidt, Canon for Cathedral Music at Saint Mark's Cathedral
- JUNE 18: Susanna Valleau, music director of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Shoreline
- MAY 21: Christopher Stroh, Assistant Director of Music and Organist at St. James Cathedral
- APRIL 16: Wyatt Smith, Instructor of Organ & Harpsichord, Epiphany Music Academy and Affiliate Artist in Organ & Harpsichord, University of Puget Sound
- MARCH 19: Mark McDonald, Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, BC
- FEBRUARY 19: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- JANUARY 15: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
2022
- DECEMBER 18: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- NOVEMBER 20: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- OCTOBER 16: Andrew Koch
- SEPTEMBER 18: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Cathedral
- JULY 17: John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- JUNE 19: David Boekh, the newly appointed Associate Organist of Saint James Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago
- MAY 15:Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- APRIL 17: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- FEBRUARY 20: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- JANUARY 16: Lucas Jindra, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral Music Intern
2021
- DECEMBER 19: Jason Anderson, Compline Choir Director, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- NOVEMBER 21:John Stuntebeck, Associate Organist Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- OCTOBER 17: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
- AUGUST 22: Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
8 Responses
Gerry Burnett
I enjoy listening to your wonderful organ. Will you be having concerts after the Compline Service on Jan.15, Feb. and March on the 19th. When will I know and if possible, what will be played?
Are there any other organ events scheduled for early 2023.
Thanks, Gerry
Saint Mark's Cathedral
The repertoire for the informal post-Compline recitals are typically not settled until just before the date of the event, but I can confirm that YES, there will be recitals on both January 15 and February 19, 2023. The next major organ concert will be on Friday, May 5, 2023. But you may be interested in the 30-minute organ improvisations offered at 6 p.m. before Cathedral Yoga on the first Monday of the each month (except April 3).
Eric
Will organ by night be happening tonight? May 26, 2024?
Saint Mark's Cathedral
Hi Eric — thank you for your interest. No, organ recitals happen only on the third Sunday of the month. There was one on May 19, 2024 (one week ago), and the next one will be June 16, 2024.
Mae
Hello! I understand these are free events, do I need to make a reservation for a spot? Thanks.
Saint Mark's Cathedral
Mae, definitely not. Just show up! There are no assigned seats, and you are invited to listen on the main floor or in the organ loft, and come and go as you please.
AM
What time are these performances?
Saint Mark's Cathedral
They begin immediately after Compline concludes—approximately 10 p.m.