Symphony at St. Philips

"Join us for a harmonious Sunday morning worship experience at St. Philip's Evangelical Lutheran Church! 🎶 On February 4th at 10 AM, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents 'In UNISON' with graduate fellow Alayna Epps and keyboardist Peter Henderson. You can attend in person at 2424 Annie Malone Dr., St. Louis, MO 63113 or watch online via Yahoo or Facebook Live at StphilipsSTL. For more details, call 314-531-6318, visit our website www.stphilipsstl.org, or email us at info@stphilipsstl.org. Join us for a blend of music, worship, and community!"

Alayna Epps

Alayna Epps, soprano, is the Young Artist Administration Fellow and Scholar with the SLSO IN UNISON

Chorus for the 2023-24 season. She graduated from the University of Missouri- St. Louis (UMSL) with a

Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Degree of Distinction in Creativity in the Arts. She is currently pursuing

her Master’s in Music Therapy at Maryville University to become a board-certified Music Therapist, with

hopes to serve families in the St. Louis Community. Alayna also serves as the worship leader at her

church, Agape Times Ministries, Inc – City of Refuge and believes it’s her purpose in life to shine God’s

light here on earth through music and acts of love. You can learn more about Alayna and her upcoming

performances at alaynanicoleintl.com.

Peter Henderson

Peter Henderson

Principal

Florence G. and Morton J. May Chair

A versatile pianist, Peter Henderson is active as a performer in solo, chamber and orchestral settings.

Henderson is currently Associate Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence at Maryville University,

where he has served on the faculty since 2005. In 2015, Henderson was appointed Principal Keyboardist

of the Sun Valley Music Festival Orchestra. Beginning in the 2023/2024 season, Henderson will serve as

Principal Keyboardist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

During January and February 2016, Henderson was the piano soloist in the SLSO’s California tour

performances of Olivier Messiaen’s Des Canyons aux étoiles… (From the Canyons to the Stars…) . Critics

described him as a “powerhouse soloist” (San Francisco Chronicle) and praised his Messiaen playing for

its “intense focus and thrilling vibrancy” (San Jose Mercury News). His most recent solo appearances

with the SLSO, in March 2023, featured performances of Joseph Haydn’s Keyboard Concerto No. 11. In

addition to his regular ensemble performances with the SLSO, Henderson often delivers pre-concert

lectures, introducing SLSO subscription concert programs from Powell Hall’s stage.

Henderson’s discography includes collaborations with violinist David Halen, flutist Mark Sparks, bass

trombonist Gerry Pagano, violist Jonathan Vinocour, and soprano Marlissa Hudson. His most recent solo

album is A Celebration of African Composers for Piano (AMP AGCD 2706, released 2017). In addition to

his performing and teaching activities, Henderson occasionally composes music and works as a

recording producer. His composition for trombone and piano entitled Rückblick (Looking Back) appears

on Gerry Pagano’s album Solitude, released December 2018.

Henderson holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He and his wife Kristin

Ahlstrom, the SLSO’s Associate Principal Second Violinist, live in St. Louis with their lively, sweet

beagle/terrier-mix, Zinni.