The Burton Memorial Organ Concert Series

In honor of Doug and Laura Burton, and underwritten by Philip Burton of Burton Jewelers in Anacortes, this series will feature 4 concerts throughout the year.  Each concert will feature a local or international player.    

The Burton Family: Nurturing Art and Community
Laura and Doug Burton were much loved and respected local jewelers in Anacortes. They met in September of 1958 and married in April of 1959. Though both have passed away, their energy is still moving Anacortes and the Skagit Valley forward. Laura was a double major in English and music at the University of Washington and taught high school English, as well as choral and elementary music, in the Anacortes school system from 1959 to 1966. In her younger years, she was a church organist and
piano teacher in Seattle. Laura proudly gave birth to son Philip in 1966. For decades, Laura greeted customers at Burton with kindness, wry wit, laughter, and joy, remaining an avid supporter of local artists, performers, and writers throughout her colorful life.
 
Doug worked with his father Phil D. Burton who founded Burton Jewelers in 1930. He almost completed a four-year business degree at University of Washington but came home to help run the store when his father’s health began to fade. Doug had a keen
interest in and appreciation of European culture, music, art, horticulture, and fine food. He was stationed in Trieste during the Korean War, and during his leave-time was able to travel around Europe. As soon as young Philip could travel internationally, the worldly trio returned to Europe many times, largely to explore Italy, Switzerland, France, and England.

In honor of his parents, Philip Burton is generously investing Burton Estate resources in classical music performances and related events in the Pacific Northwest Region. An avid golfer, musician, expert gemologist, raconteur, and Skagit Valley adventurer (often
on motorcycle with his wife Holly), Philip is a living repository for Doug and Laura’s love of the arts and unending civic spirit.

Philip is delighted to join his beloved parents in continuing the Burton tradition of promoting cultural enlivenment and enriching the Anacortes community.

Wayne Gilreath - May 19th @ 3pm

The first concert will feature Wayne Gilreath, a friend of WPC and organist from Atlanta, GA.  Wayne has several degrees in Piano and Organ performance and collaborative piano.  He is a sought after performer for both national and international concerts and conferences.  You can look forward to his concert on May 19th at 3pm. You can find a video of him performing here. 

Dr. Wyatt Smith - June 23rd @ 3pm

Dr. Wyatt Smith
  Hailed as a performer with “nuance, polish, and personality” (Michael Barone, APM Pipedreams), Wyatt Smith is an American concert organist appearing in both solo and collaborative performances throughout the United States and Europe, performing repertoire spanning from old masters to major works by living composers. Wyatt has performed in 28 states of the USA, along with Germany, France, and England. He can also be heard on ten episodes of American Public Media’s Pipedreams, performing works from J. S. Bach to Margaret Sandresky.

  An advocate of new music for the organ, Wyatt has commissioned and premiered works by Emma Lou Diemer, Margaret Sandresky, Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, Carson Cooman, Craig Phillips, Kurt Knecht, and more. These commissions include works based on chants and chorales, programmatic pieces, and chamber music.

  Wyatt performs with Tracelyn Gesteland, mezzo-soprano, as the Gesteland-Smith Duo. Together they have commissioned, premiered, and recorded new works for this ensemble, as well as promoting a historical breadth of existing repertoire. Their first program and set of commissions can be heard on the compact disc Make a Joyful Noise (RAVEN OAR 989), recorded on the 1925 E. M. Skinner organ at the University of South Dakota.

  Wyatt Smith holds degrees in organ performance from the University of Washington (DMA), Yale University (MM), and the University of South Dakota (BM). His primary mentors include Dr. Carole Terry, Dr. Martin Jean, and Dr. Larry Schou.

  Wyatt Smith is represented by Seven Eight Artists.

Dr. Randall Wilkens and student Caleb Haskins - July 28th @ 3pm

Dr. Randall Wilkens and student Caleb Haskins will be performing the third concert.

Randall Wilkens has been Associate Pastor of Worship and the Arts at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, Washington since 2006. The son of a pastor, he was intrigued by the organ in his dad’s church, which he began playing at age nine. Randall taught himself to play the organ pedals with both feet by age twelve and played regularly for church throughout his high school years. He went on to major in organ performance, earning a Bachelor of Music from Kansas State University, Master of Music from Drake University, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Kansas. Dr. Wilkens’ organ teachers have included James Higdon, Guy Bovet, Carl Staplin, and Mary Ellen Sutton. He has served as a professional church musician in Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Evangelical Covenant churches in Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, and Washington. He has been organist at many national events for the Evangelical Covenant denomination and served for many years as a member of their Commission on Worship. Randall often performs on harpsichord with his violinist wife Bonnie, both as a duo and as part of the Seattle-based Baroque quartet Odd Pearl Consort.

Caleb Haskins began studying organ with Dr. Randall Wilkens in 2021 at the age of nine—learning both manual and pedal technique from the start. Before he turned ten, Caleb was already playing organ for services at Bethany Covenant Church, mastering the art of hymn playing with just months of organ lessons. Caleb quickly became one of the regular musicians at church, playing organ or piano at least once a month, and for the past year and a half has served as accompanist for the Bethany Choir. He has also performed with the Bethany Young Voices, Bethany Bells, and Fidalgo Youth Symphony. Caleb studies piano with Alex Isackson. He lives with his family on Camano Island, and when he is not practicing or studying, he enjoys working with computers and other tech projects. Caleb is twelve years old and will turn thirteen in August of 2024.

Dr. Hannah Byun - August 11th @ 3pm

Dr. Byun earned her Bachelor of Musical Arts with a major in church music and organ performance from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. She then earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance and a Master’s degree in conducting from the Universität für Künste in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Byun has served as adjunct professor of organ and choral conducting at Yonsei, Joongang, and Jangsin Presbyterian Universities in South Korea. In Korea, she was the founding director for the Goyang City Children’s Choir, an elite ensemble of 50 select students. Hannah has been active on the Seattle music scene as Principal Organist at University Presbyterian Church, conductor of the UPC String Ensemble, and music director at Seattle Dream Church (Korean). She has served on the board of the American Guild of Organists Seattle chapter, and has been active as a recitalist and regional chamber musician with appearances at Plymouth Congregational Church, Benaroya Hall, and with the Northwest Chorale. Currently, Dr. Byun is living in Korea and works as the choir conductor at Saemunan Church(the first Presbyterian Church founded in 1887 by an American missionary, Horace Grant Underwood), and as the organist at Eunpyong First Presbyterian Church. She is also the conductor for the Yonsei Alumni Choir and serves as a visiting professor at Hansei University for conducting classes.  Hannah has also been the harpsichordist for our Messiah sing concerts in the past. Find out more about this performer here.