Press
article in Wisconsin state journal
review in phindie
“Zelek, a consummate artist…has the ability to make the 2-manual Aeolian-Skinner Opus 963 organ, installed in 1937, overcome both its venerability and vulnerability in a beautiful performance of carefully selected music.”
review in the cap times
“When it is played as well as Greg Zelek in the MSO’s second number of the night, “Toccata Festiva for Organ and Orchestra” by Samuel Barber, it proves just as aurally stunning as it is visually.”
Review in Channel3000
“The guest artist for the concerts is Greg Zelek, the symphony’s organist, playing the Overture Concert Organ and he figuratively blew the place apart.”
Review in The Well-Tempered Ear
“The virtuosic Zelek is simply so good that he managed to turn a second-rate piece by Samuel Barber into a first-rate crowd-pleaser that brought huge applause and a long standing ovation, then an encore and another standing ovation.”
Review by Greg Hettmansberger
“Zelek, not surprisingly was the master of all required of him, including an extended section for just the pedals.”
TV Interview with NBC15
“Evening anchor John Stofflet sits down with Greg Zelek, principal organist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra”
Article in the Isthmus
“Greg Zelek takes over as principal player and curator of the Overture Concert Organ”
Article in the South Carolina Index-Journal
“Virtuosic organist credits luck and timing for his start”
Preview in the Tampa Bay Times
“The concert features Greg Zelek on the organ and Grammy-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich playing Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole”
Interview with the Madison Symphony Orchestra
“Organist Greg Zelek Shares Future Goals with MSO”
Preview in Organiste
“Greg Zelek, one of the country’s most exciting young organists, will give a concert in the Fort Lauderdale Sanctuary”
Preview in Madison Magazine
“Greg Zelek brings new life to the organ with effortless skill and precision.”
Preview in Cincinnati.com
“Juilliard graduate is recognized as one of most exciting young organists in American organ scene.”
Rarely heard pipe organ takes center stage in symphony performance
challenge of keeping his dynamics spot on at all
times in relation to the orchestra. His
registrations were creative and colorful,
particularly in the quieter moments of the
second movement.”
20 March 2021
Concert organist creates intimate experience in grand space during holiday sing-
“Zelek was physically animated throughout the performance. His hands flew across three levels of keyboards while his feet worked the pedalboard like somebody playing Dance Dance Revolution in an arcade.”
Howard Hardee, Wisconsin State Journal
15 December 2019
Beautiful music at St. Mary’s, Hamilton Village
“Zelek, a consummate artist…has the ability to make the 2-manual Aeolian-Skinner Opus 963 organ, installed in 1937, overcome both its venerability and vulnerability in a beautiful performance of carefully selected music.”
Margaret Darby, Phindie
25 November 2019
The Madison Symphony Orchestra opens its new season with a strong and memorable
“The virtuosic Zelek is simply so good that he managed to turn a second-rate piece by Samuel Barber into a first-rate crowd-pleaser that brought huge applause and a long standing ovation, then an encore and another standing ovation.”
Jacob Stockinger, Well-Tempered Ear
04 October 2019
Madison Symphony Opener Evokes a Memory
“Zelek, not surprisingly was the master of all required of him, including an extended section for just the pedals.”
Greg Hettmansberger, WhatGregSays
04 October 2019
Madison Symphony Orchestra gets off to spectacular start
“…Greg Zelek, the symphony’s organist, playing the Overture Concert Organ and he figuratively blew the place apart . . . He’s good. He’s really, really good.”
Bill Wineke,Channel3000
02 October 2019
Madison Symphony gets off to a strong start with 'Love, Lust and Redemption'
“When it is played as well as Greg Zelek in the MSO’s second number of the night, “Toccata Festiva for Organ and Orchestra” by Samuel Barber, it proves just as aurally stunning as it is visually.”
Matt Ambrosio, The Cap Times
28 September 2019
Teenage vision became Madison’s gain
“…the MSO has a new musical star, organist Greg Zelek, 26, who performs in shirt sleeves, shares family stories with his audience and seems to delight in mingling with patrons during intermissions. His last concert sold out the Overture Center on a Tuesday night.”
Bill Wineke, Channel3000
25 April 2019
Madison’s classical music scene keeps getting better
“There are nights that make me happy I am a Madisonian. One of them was Friday night’s Madison Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Overture Center. The other was Tuesday’s Overture Concert Organ performance featuring organist Greg Zelek and cellist Thomas Mesa, two Juilliard buddies who put on the most enjoyable concert I have ever encountered.”
Bill Wineke, Channel3000
17 April 2019
A Young Organist Plays A Madison Gem
“At age 26, Zelek is quite extraordinary in the classical music world.”
Jon Hornbacher, PBS Wisconsin
19 September 2018
Greg Zelek in Recital: Volcanic, Organic, Romantic (and downright funny!)
“At this rate, Zelek might have a dual career at the comedy clubs on State Street when he isn’t commanding the Mighty Klais. “
Greg Hettmansberger, WhatGregSays
19 September 2018
Organ virtuoso
“Seeing and hearing Zelek in action helps explain why praise follows the organist everywhere.”
Sandy Tabachnick, Isthmus
14 December 2017
Poulenc’s powerhouse Organ Concerto highlights Miami Symphony program
“Zelek also provided a substantial solo encore in Hommage to Stravinsky by the contemporary Lebanese composer Naki Hakim. As an impressive jumble of technical legerdemain, jazzy rhythms, and chordal climaxes, it brought the house down.”
Alan Becker, South Florida Classical Review
10 April 2011
New program presents one-night only, Cuban inspired concert at Overture Center
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – For just one night, you can hear “Greg Zelek y Amigos” play a Cuban-inspired concert at the Overture Center this Friday.
Oct. 3, 2023
The King of Instruments
With its powerful voice and myriad inflections, the organ is justifiably called The King of Instruments.
FEB 26 2023
There's a 30-Ton Pipe Organ in Madison and You Should Hear It
There’s a giant among us and it lives at the Overture Center for the Arts. It’s a 30-ton pipe organ.
Greg Zelek En Español
Greg Zelek, organista de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Madison habló con Ava Borelli el 21 de septiembre en radio WORT-FM
Madison Symphony Orchestra returns to in-person performances
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – For the first time in a year and a half, musicians from the Madison Symphony Orchestra will return to perform in front of a live audience at Overture Hall Friday and Saturday night.
Sep. 24, 2021
Interview with Greg Zelek
Evening anchor John Stofflet sits down with Greg Zelek, principal organist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
May. 11, 2018
TVW | Talk Wisconsin | Madison Symphony Orchestra | 9-24-19
TVW | Talk Wisconsin | Madison Symphony Orchestra | 9-24-19
Madison Symphony Orchestra League, Member Event with Greg Zelek
Our September 24, 2019 MSOL event featured Madison Symphony’s Principal Organist and Curator of the Overture Concert Organ,
September 24, 2019