2026 Presidents’ Day Conference

Monday, February 16th, 2026
Presidents’ Day Conference
Saint Mary the Virgin
145 West 46th Street

12:30 PM Opening Remarks and Bradley Welch Recital
1:30 PM Organ Demonstration by David Hurd and Church Tour
2:15 PM break
2:30 PM Calvin Hampton Presentation by Maks Adach
3:30 PM break
4 PM Damin Spritzer Recital

The 2026 Presidents’ Day Conference, the keystone event of our Program Year, celebrates American music and honors our country’s Semiquincentennial. Bradley Welch and Damin Spritzer bookend the day with recitals on the incomparable Aeolian-Skinner of Saint Mary the Virgin. In between, the church’s own Director of Music David Hurd offers a tonal demonstration of Opus 891-A, and Maks Adach presents on the life and music of Calvin Hampton, one of the foremost American organists and composers of the 20th century.
 
The cornerstone of Saint Mary the Virgin, in the midst of what is now Times Square, was laid in 1894. Designed by Napoleon LeBrun & Sons, Smoky Mary’s is a breathtaking exemplar of American Anglo-Catholic architecture. Its spectacular acoustics, elaborate liturgy, and exquisite appointments complement a legendary music program.

The Aeolian-Skinner has for decades been under the watchful care of Chapter member and 2020 Distinguished Career Award recipient Lawrence Trupiano.

The Conference is open and free to all. The conference booklet can be found at this link as well as below.