A Wonderful Event at the Cathedral

Organ recital and reception draw an appreciative group to hear teacher Eric Dombrowski perform

It was an irresistible opportunity: Visit the wonderful Washington National Cathedral, hear Foxcroft faculty member Eric Dombrowski play the 10,650-pipe Great Organ, and meet Head of School Cathy McGehee just 100 days into her tenure.


Approximately 60 members of the Foxcroft family attended the lovely event on Sunday, November 16, which included a pre-recital reception in the Cathedral’s Bethlehem Chapel. Alumnae representing classes from 1947 to 2010, parents (of current students and alumnae), students, and faculty came from near and far -- one alumna happened to be visiting from San Francisco!
It was well worth the effort. Dombrowski, who directs Chorale, teaches Latin and piano, and serves as accompanist at Foxcroft, was terrific -- especially considering that he sat down at the Cathedral’s organ for the first time less than 48 hours before the recital.

“What practice time I had I spent learning what that particular instrument can do and how it works in the space,” explained Dombrowski, who practiced for two hours Friday night and five hours on Saturday. The program included pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Frank Bridge, Charles Villiers Stanford, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, among others -- and they sounded like he'd been playing on that instrument, in that space, for years.

“It was amazing,” said junior Victoria Zhao. “We got to sit up in the choir area right next to Mr. Dombrowski and watch him play.” The girls were especially fascinated by Dombrowski’s footwork. In a brief intro to the challenge of playing the organ at Morning Meeting earlier in the week, he had mentioned that he can play four notes at a time with the customized jazz dance shoes he wears.

“Two with my toes and two with my heels,” he said. “Playing the organ is kind of like being a one-man band.”
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.