St. Michael’s welcomes international award-winning pianist Xuan He

World-scholar musician to serve as interim Supply Organist through summer 2018

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church is pleased to welcome Xuan He as the parish’s interim Supply Organist through summer 2018. An award-winning musician and collaborator, Xuan has performed in venues across four continents. He has been featured as a soloist in numerous orchestras and ensembles including the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Northwestern Philharmonia, Northwestern Baroque Music Ensemble, Wratislavia Chamber Orchestra, and Bowling Green Philharmonia.

Xuan will serve in place of St. Michael’s Music Director Frank Van Atta who is currently on sabbatical and returns later this summer. Xuan hopes his offerings will help unite the community and allow parishioners to experience new cultural interpretations of traditional service music.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to offer my music and talents to the St. Michael’s parish,” said Xuan He. “I have studied in many countries across the globe and look forward to collaborating and working with musicians in the Milton community.”

Born in Jiangyou, in southwest China, Xuan came to the United States in 2008 to study piano at Northwestern University. He received a DMA and MM with a cognate in musicology and received a program honor given to outstanding graduates. He then attended Bowling Green State University where he was awarded the J. Paul Kennedy Music Achievement Award.

In addition to his studies, Xuan has participated and performed in numerous music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival and Bowdoin International Music Festival. In Europe, he has appeared in festivals in Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain, and performed both as soloist and with chamber ensembles and orchestras. He spent a year in Amsterdam studying fortepiano and harpsichord before moving to his current residence in Arlington, Massachusetts.

“St. Michael’s parish is dedicated to providing the community a unique and unifying music ministry with a focus on education, outreach, and inclusion,” said Rev. Hall Kirkham of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. “We are excited to welcome Xuan He into our community and I hope folks in Milton and the surrounding communities will come experience the exceptional music we offer!”

All are welcome to experience Xuan He and his music during 10 a.m. Sunday Service at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at 112 Randolph Ave. in Milton. St. Michael’s is MBTA and handicapped accessible. For more information on Xuan He or St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, contact the church office at 617-698-1813 or [email protected].