Biography

Peter Rodgers

Praised as “extraordinary in the classical music world” (Jon Hornbacher, PBS Wisconsin Life) and a “musical star” (Bill Wineke, Channel 3000), Greg Zelek is the Principal Organist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Curator of the Overture Concert Organ, where he regularly performs and oversees all of the MSO's organ programming. Since September 2017, Greg has proudly held the Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curatorship.

In addition to concertizing throughout the United States, Greg performs with orchestras as both a soloist and ensemble member, including the MET Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, New World Symphony, Ridgewood Symphony, Miami Symphony, and Madison Symphony. Highlights of the upcoming 2023-24 season include return appearances as the Artist-in-Residence of the Organ Series of the Jacksonville Symphony, concerts as the Visiting Guest Artist at St. John’s University, performances with cellist Thomas Mesa and also with trombonist Mark Hetzler, as well as solo concerts throughout the country. With the Madison Symphony, Greg will perform in two of the four concerts that he curates, including a unique bilingual performance with a Latin-American Band, and a closing concert with the UW-Madison Wind Ensemble. Greg also released his first recording on the Overture Concert Organ in the Fall of 2022.

In 2016, Greg was chosen by The Diapason magazine as one of the top “20 Under 30” organists, a feature which selects the most successful young artists in the field. He was the First Prize winner in the 2012 Rodgers North American Classical Organ Competition, 2012 West Chester University Organ Competition, and 2010 East Carolina University Organ Competition, as well as the Audience Prize winner of the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition. A recipient of the inaugural Kovner Fellowship, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, as well as an Artist Diploma, from the Juilliard School as a student of Paul Jacobs. Greg, who is Cuban-American and a native Spanish speaker, grew up in Miami, FL.