TOSDV: The First Fifty Years of Film Music
About
On June 23rd, 2024 the Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley is presenting a special program, The First Fifty Years of Film Music. This virtuoso performance by Ian Fraser will explore themes from the beginnings of silent film and jazz to classic movie musicals and the swing years finishing in the 1950’s with Monsters and Bebop. Join Ian as he discusses each selection on this fascinating and historic journey played on The Colonial Theatre’s beautifully restored 3/24 Mighty Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra; the only instrument capable of delivering all these musical genres and more in a symphonic live performance.
Proceeds will be used to keep the organ in tip-top shape and fund future silent film accompaniments and concerts. For additional information visit TOSDV.com; email info@tosdv.com.
THE ORGANIST
Ian Fraser’s fascination with organs started at the age of two when he heard a band organ on a local carousel in his hometown of Staten Island, NY. His interests soon expanded into the world of mechanical music with player pianos, orchestrions, etc. When he was 16, after seeing a silent film accompanied by Bernie Anderson at Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY in 2017, he got the opportunity to sit at the console and play the theatre organ for the first time. From there, he has followed his passion to become a theatre organist.
Leveraging his ability to play by ear, Ian taught himself in just a few short years to play the theatre organ. This has been influenced by studying his favorite genres and organists. He has performed at John Dickinson High School (DE), Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall (NJ), the Loew’s Jersey Theatre (NJ), the Trenton War Memorial (NJ), the Union County Performing Arts Center (NJ), Babson College (MA), Cleveland Grays Armory Museum (OH), the Capitol Theatre (PA) and The Grand Theater (PA) among others.
Ian is the first-place winner of the American Theatre Organ Society’s Young Theatre Organist Competition which was held at the 2023 Chicago Convention.
Now residing in Plainfield, NJ, Ian is the house organist at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ performing pre-shows before film screenings and accompanying silent films. He is also the house organist at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, NY performing pre-shows for their “Better on the Big Screen” classic movie series and “Arts-In-Education” series where he regularly plays for audiences of over 1,500 students in grades K-12 exposing the theatre organ to the next generation.
In addition to being a concert artist and a silent film accompanist, he has developed a new themed live show format blending silent shorts, historical presentation and a mini-concert.
Ian’s other interests are in the restoration of pipe organs and mechanical musical instruments.
He is the Vice President of AMICA’s Lady Liberty Chapter (Automatic Musical Instrument Collectors Association) and a Director of COAA (Carousel Organ Association of America). He is also a member of the NCA (National Carousel Association), GSTOS (Garden State Theatre Organ Society), NYTOS (New York Theatre Organ Society) and ATOS (American Theatre Organ Society).
TICKETS
Adults: $12
Children: $7
General admission seating. Ticket prices include a $2.00 per ticket processing fee. Tickets are available by cash, check, or credit card at The Colonial Theatre box office, or online.
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