The King of Instruments & The Instrument of Kings
Trumpet & Organ Duo
Engaging ~ Innovative ~ Entertaining ~ Virtuosic ~ Diverse
A Unique Concert Blend Of Music And Video
Greetings,
Trumpeter, Chuck Seipp, teams up with organists, Craig Williams, and Todd Fickley, for multimedia concert presentations by The King of Instruments & The Instrument of Kings.
CHUCK SEIPP is Sergeant Major (retired) from The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, in Washington, D.C. and is fortunate to have opportunity to collaborate with these two amazing artists performing varied entertaining community concerts as well as moving patriotic programs.
CRAIG WILLIAMS is Organist and Choirmaster of Cadet Chapel, United States Military Academy West Point, NY and international concert solo and recording artist.
TODD FICKLEY is the Organist for National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., as well as conductor and international concert solo and recording artist.
This duo is unlike any ensemble performing today. Custom musical arrangements of virtuoso, beautiful, entertaining, humorous, and patriotic selections enhance the exquisite blend of their instruments. Coupled visually with specialized videos, these musicians craft a unique and engaging concert experience for all ages, creating extraordinary connection with their audiences. Thoughtful programming, artistic arrangements and powerful, innovative, and interactive video presentations make this duo today’s musicians to watch.
I would be delighted to discuss with you the possibility of either duo joining your community for concert.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you,
Chuck Seipp
www.cjseippmusic.com
Trumpeter CHUCK SEIPP culminated his 32-year career from The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” as Concert Band Group Leader. Sergeant Major Seipp performed at national, presidential, and historical world events, at concerts and special events in Washington, D.C., and for funerals and wreath-laying ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery. He performed with the Concert Band, Orchestra, Ceremonial Band, Herald Trumpets, The Army Brass Quintet, and was a featured soloist.
Chuck has toured and recorded throughout Europe with world–renowned organist Diane Bish, appearing regularly on her “Joy of Music” television series. As an active teacher, soloist, clinician, and performer, he has performed locally with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera House Orchestra, Washington Ballet Orchestra, and Washington Bach Consort. He also leads and is active throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region with The Commonwealth Brass Quintet.
Through CJ Seipp Music Publications, he markets his own brass arrangements, many of which have been played and recorded by the Canadian Brass Quintet, The U.S. Army Brass Quintet, among many others. Chuck’s recording project of The Wedding Book is a collection of his arrangements has proven to be a valuable resource for organists and trumpeters nationally and internationally. Chuck’s recent years passion has been managing, promoting, and performing with the Seipp/Sheets Trumpet & Organ Duo. From recording projects to travels across the country concertizing with Dr. Randall Sheets, Arlington National Cemetery Ceremonial Organist (retired), this duo takes performances to unprecedented entertaining and musical heights through all styles of specialized arrangements synchronized to captivating and moving videos.
He served on faculty as adjunct professor of trumpet at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, from 2013-2019 and visiting professor of trumpet at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, from 2012-2013.
Chuck, Yamaha Performing Artist, holds an undergraduate music education degree from The University of Kansas and masters and doctoral degrees in trumpet performance from The Catholic University of America.
CRAIG S. WILLIAMS is Organist and Choirmaster of Cadet Chapel, United States Military Academy West Point, where he plays the world’s largest church all-pipe organ and directs the Cadet Chapel Choir. He is only the fourth organist to hold that position since the present Cadet Chapel building was erected in 1910.
At West Point, Mr. Williams oversees the music programs of five chapels, in which are given well over 400 services, concerts, and various other functions annually. Mr. Williams personally performs at approximately 200 of these chapel functions, including worship services, weddings, funerals, class reunion memorial services, recitals, choir concerts, and VIP organ demonstrations performing for royalty, cabinet members, generals, members of Congress, and many other international government and military figures. He has been featured on television numerous times including the Fox News’ “West Point Holiday Special” which received over 2 million views, and he appears as organist on the West Point Glee Club’s DVD “Stand Ye Steady.” The performance of “Jerusalem” (arranged from C.H.H. Parry) is prominently featured on YouTube, with over 2.5 million views. Mr. Williams maintains his own YouTube channel (Craig Williams, Organist), where he regularly posts many different styles of organ repertoire and hymn arrangements, recorded on the West Point Cadet Chapel organ and other locations.
Mr. Williams has performed publicly on both organ and piano for over 40 years and continues to perform nationwide. In 2021, he performed in the Curso Internacional de Órgano Romántico, in San Sebastian, Spain. His organ credits include performances at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, several appearances at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, and at Segerstrom Hall in Orange County, California, with the Pacific Chorale. His most recent appearance at Segerstrom Hall was in the concert “Superstar Organ Virtuosos” where he shared the stage with Paul Jacobs, Frederick Swann, Christoph Bull, and members of the Pacific Symphony. Mr. Williams has also played on the summer series at the Riverside Church in New York, the Crystal Cathedral, and Ocean Grove Auditorium; and he continues to give numerous recitals and workshops for prominent cathedrals and churches on both coasts.
Mr. Williams is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists and served as dean of the Central Hudson Valley chapter from 2012 to 2016. In the early ’90s, he served as dean of the Brooklyn Chapter. Also, he has been a featured performer for conventions held by the American Guild of Organists and the American Institute of Organbuilders.
Mr. Williams received a Master’s in organ performance from Westminster Choir College where he was the first Currin Scholar in Organ Performance, a full graduate-level scholarship, studying with Eugene Roan. His piano performance degrees include a Master’s from the Juilliard School, studying with Martin Canin, where he performed with the Juilliard Symphony at Lincoln Center; and a bachelor’s from the University of Southern California, studying with Daniel Pollack.
TODD FICKLEY is the Organist of National Presbyterian Church and founder of “The Bach Project.” He is the long-time protégé of the late Bach expert Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, having served as his Artistic Assistant at both the Washington Bach Consort and the Cathedral Choral Society.
Equally comfortable at the podium, harpsichord, piano, and organ, Mr. Fickley’s career spans over 30 years performing across the United States, Europe, and Israel. He collaborates with a wide variety of ensembles, such as the National Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Ballet, the National Philharmonic, and the Three Notch’d Road baroque ensemble.
A native Washingtonian, he began his organ studies already as an accomplished pianist at the Washington National Cathedral under Bruce Neswick. At the age of 23, Mr. Fickley was made a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). He also holds the AGO Choirmaster Diploma as well as the M.A. in Organ Performance with High Distinction from the University of Wales.
A prize-winning organist and specialist in the music of J.S. Bach, Mr. Fickley has been featured numerous times on NPR and PRI. In 2014 he launched “The Bach Project,” a cycle of concerts performing and recording all of Bach’s organ works, the first time in almost a quarter of a century that such a project has been undertaken in the DC area. The first volume on the MSR Classics label was praised in Fanfare Magazine as “some of the most enthralling Bach organ playing you are likely to hear anywhere by anyone.” The Project has taken him to Germany in 2015 and 2018 researching and performing on historic organs.
He is frequently seen as a recitalist, accompanist, and concerto soloist on all three keyboard instruments. He also is in demand as a conductor and lecturer in the Washington DC metro area, and enjoys teaching privately. He is an Officer in the Order of St. John, and a member of the National Society of Washington Family Descendants, and the Sons of the American Revolution.