University organist Annette Richards presents a program of four virtuosic French works tonight at 8:15 p.m.
All four works on the program were composed by men who also were noted organists during their lifetimes in 19th- and 20th-century Paris. The program features François Couperin's Messe pour les Paroisses (Mass for the Parishes), César Franck's Trois Piéces pour Grand Orgue, Jehan Alain's Trois Danses and Maurice Duruflé's Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op.7.
British-born Richards has won prizes at international festivals and competitions, including the 1986 Oundle International Organ Festival and the 1992 Dublin International Organ Competition. She performed in concert halls in the Netherlands, England and Spain, and in historic American churches, including Old West Church in Boston, Trinity Cathedral in San Jose and Memorial Church at Stanford University. She studied with Jacques van Oortmerssen at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, where she won the coveted Performer's Diploma. from Oxford University and a master's and doctorate from Stanford University, joined Cornell as university organist in 1994.