Essex Organ Museum

Directory of Classical Organists:- H to L

For information on the Graphic Icons used on this site click here

Quick link to Surnames names beginning with :- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - V - W - Y - Z

Barbara Harbach	14th Feb 1946 -	Facebook Page Twitter Page
A Woman Of NoteA profile of Barbara Harbach Chaconne in D minor Fisk Organ Slee Hall Buffalo Own compositions played by various artists Winter Wonderland Around the World Forces at Play on 7 World Continents Flowers Around the World		Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Barbara Harbach Web site Barbara Harbach Wikipedia page Barbara Harbach Organ Live Page
Barbara Harbach was born 14th February 1946 in Pennsylvania. She studied at the Pennsylvania State University, Yale University, Frankfurt Academy, the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York and Musikhochschule in Frankfurt, Germany with Helmut Walcha Helmut Walcha 1907 - 1991 .
Douglas Hawkridge	1907 -
		Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Image © Local World Limited/Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Douglas Leighton Hawkridge was born 1907 in Derby. F.R.A.M., F.R.C.O., L.R.A.M. Studied at Derby School; the Royal Academy of Music, London. Organist of Ilford Parish Church; St. Philip’s, Kensington, London; St. Columba’s, Pont Street, London; St. James’, Sussex Gardens, London. Sub-professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Extract:- Biographical Dictionary of the Organ
Porter Heaps	1906 - 3rd May 1999
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Classical organ)		Obituary The New York Times
Sometimes called 'Mr. Hammond Organ,' Porter Warrington Heaps was a showman who travelled the world displaying the versatility of the electronic keyboard. When the instrument first came along, no one knew much about it, so I was asked by the manufacturers to play it and learn just what it could do,' Mr. Heaps told the Chicago Tribune in 1951. A virtuoso performer of both pop and classical music, Mr. Heaps introduced the organ to the common person, proving it to be not only an instrument for the church but also the home. Largely because of his efforts, the Chicago-based Hammond Organ Co. sold tens of thousands of organs. Mr. Heaps died of heart failure at his home in Palo Alto, Calif., on May 3, three weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. Like Liberace , Mr. Heaps brought a quirky humour to his shows, playing serious music without boring his audience. Born in Cicero to a minister and his wife, Mr. Heaps played his first organ recital at age 11. At 18, he was a church organist and choir director, posts he held throughout his life, including at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Evanston. In the 1920s, Mr. Heaps obtained a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Northwestern University, choosing songs of the Civil War as his master's thesis. Summers were spent in Paris, studying organ with Marcel Dupré Marcel Jean Jules Dupré 3rd May 1886 – 30th May 1971 A pupil of Alexandre Guilmant & Louis Vierne Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ . On June 23, 1935, Mr. Heaps made history in the first public performance of a Hammond organ. Extract:- Obituary
Rob Hlebinsky		Rob Hlebinsky Facebook Page Rob Hlebinsky Twitter Page Rob Hlebinsky You Tube Channel
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah In dulci jubilo If You Can Dream It Let's Go Fly a Kite Oo-De-Lally When You Wish Upon a Star		Web site
Rob Hlebinsky was born January 24, 1985, He started piano lessons at age 6 and at 8 years old began studying the violin as well. Rob took private lessons from Natasha Snitkovsky at age 11. A world renowned performer in her own right, Mrs. Snitkovsky helped Rob achieve a new level of ability. In 1997, Rob was given an opportunity to be accompanist for a children's choir at his home church, Christ United Methodist in Bethel Park, PA. It was in this new role that he caught the attention of the church's organist, John Erickson. After observing Rob for a year, Mr. Erickson contacted Rob's parents saying he believed that Rob would make a good organist. In January of 2000 Rob was given an opportunity that would change his life forever. Due to unexpected circumstances Mr. Erickson had been unable to play for services, the church decided to give an untested Rob the chance to play the Sunday services. Though his first Sunday on the bench was a little shaky, as he finished the last few notes of his postlude that morning, Rob knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that a career in church music awaited him. Rob went on to play for an additional 5 weeks after that first Sunday until Mr. Erickson was able to return. A year later, Rob would be asked to serve as the church's assistant organist. After graduating high school in 2003, Rob attended Indiana University's Jacob's School of Music in Bloomington, IN, studying under the world renown Dr. Marilyn Keiser. In 2007, Rob graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's degree in Organ Performance. More information
Gert van Hoef		Gert Van Hoef Facebook page Gert Van Hoef You Tube channel
Arrival of the Queen of Sheeba The Entertainer Conquest of Paradise Toccata in F major - J.S. Bach The Polar Express Danse Macabre Tuba Tune Pomp and Circumstance The Rose		Link to Gert Van Hoef web site Gert Van Hoef Wikipedia page
Gert van Hoef was born 17th June 1994 in Barneveld, the Netherlands. At 13 he received his first lesson from his grandfather. He received a digital organ from his parents which he explored by himself. In June 2008 Gert started to study organ. Gert regularly posted videos of his work on Youtube, people were soon asking him for performances and concerts throughout the Netherlands. In 2010, as a 16th birthday present Gert was given the opportunity to play the Moreau organ of Sint-Jan's Church in Gouda. He was also appointed organist at the Voorthuizen Reformed Church. Extract from the Gert van Hoef Web Site
Frederick Hohman		Frederick Hohman YouTube channel
Widor Toccata at Cathedral Basilica in Newark Marche Slav, Opus 31 at Spreckels Organ Pavillion Marche Characteristique at Stanford University's Memorial Church Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy at Stanford University's Memorial Church The Homecoming at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee Thou Art the Rock at the Great Organ of Methuen Memorial Music Hall Pimped Out Ride, Valkyrie Style at the Great Organ of Methuen Memorial Music Hall		Frederick Hohman web site Current Albums Frederick Hohman Organ Live Page
Frederick Hohmans primary piano and organ teacher in St. Louis from 1967 to 1974 was Charles CordealCharles Cordeal c.1923 - 5th Nov 1995 Choir director and organist at Mary Queen of Peace parish in Webster Groves from 1949 until his death. of Webster Groves, Missouri. Mr. Cordeal saw the opportunity to spotlight Fred, then age 12, as a model student for the then-new St. Louis Archdiocesan Organist Training Program (AOTP). Fred progressed through the program and presented his first solo organ recital at age 14. While studying with Cordeal, from age 12 through 17, Fred served as organist in two churches. Prior to leaving St. Louis at age 18, Fred served as Associate Organist for 19 months at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves (1973-1974. It was during his 19-month stay at Emmanuel Episcopal Church that Fred presented 3 organ recitals on the church's 3-manual Holtkamp organ. Although he could have pursued a film career in Hollywood, on the advice of his musician father, and already having a level of comfort from teenage performing experience, and with the encouragement of a full scholarship from the Eastman School of Music Fred entered the Eastman School in 1974 as a sophomore level undergraduate in the organ class of David Craighead. He would remain at Eastman to earn the Performer's Certificate in Organ (1977), Mus.B., Applied Organ (1977), Master of Music in Performance and Literature (Organ), 1979, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature (Organ), 1990. Fred is distinguished as the only student to have taken all available degrees at the Eastman School while remaining in the organ studio of David Craighead. During his first years at Eastman, 1977-1979, Fred produced, engineered, hosted, and performed all the organ literature for a weekly 30-minute radio program, entitled Pro Organo. The Pro Organo radio series had 26 weekly episodes. After having been a semi-finalist and finalist in a number of competitions Frederick Hohman won First Prize in both the Clarence Mader Organ Competition and the Arthur Poister national organ-playing competition. Between the years 1974 and 1993, Frederick served in a number of parishes as organist and choirmaster or as director of music. During his career as a recitalist, Frederick Hohman has performed hundreds of recitals in the USA, including tours of the Caribbean, Australia , the UK and Finland. He has presided as the featured recitalist at the dedication of new American organs, and has been featured as a concerto soloist with a number of American symphony orchestras. From 1996 to 2000, Hohman produced and hosted a weekly television series about the organ and organists, entitled 'Midnight Pipes.' This series ran for 24 half-hour episodes. Extract:- Frederick Hohman biography
Christopher Houlihan	6th Oct 1987 -	Christopher Houlihan FaceBook page Christopher Houlihan Twitter page Christopher Houlihan Instagram page Christopher Houlihan YouTube channel
Allegro from Symphony No. 6 - Widor Fantasy in E-flat - Camille Saint-Saëns Allegro Maëstoso, from Symphony 3 - Louis Vierne Andante Sostenuto, from Symphonie Gothique - Charles-Marie Widor Scherzo, from Symphonie No. 2 - Louis Vierne		Christopher Houlihan web site Christopher Houlihan Wikipedia page Christopher Houlihan Cd Sales Christopher Houlihan Organ Live Page
Originally from Somers, Connecticut, Christopher Houlihan began studying the organ at the age of 12 with John Rose, and at the age of 15, he won first prize in the Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition. Houlihan attended Trinity College in Hartford where he continued to study with John Rose and made his orchestral debut with the Hartford Symphony. After graduating from Trinity College, he attended The Juilliard School in New York where he studied with the Grammy Award winning organist Paul Jacobs. In 2005-2006, Houlihan was organ scholar at The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford and then at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford from 2006-2007. Houlihan later studied at the French National Regional Conservatory in Versailles where he was a student of Jean-Baptiste Robin and where he earned the "Prix de Perfectionnement" (equivalent to a university artist's diploma in the US). While in France, he served as an assistant musician at The American Cathedral in Paris and had the honour of performing for the then President and First Lady of the United States, Mr. And Mrs. George W. Bush Extract:- Christopher Houlihan Wikipedia page
Peter Hurford	22nd Nov 1930 -
J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol. 1 1 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol. 1 2 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol. 1 3 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.2 1 of 2 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.2 2 of 2 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.3 1 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.3 2 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.3 3 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.4 1 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.4 2 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.4 3 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.5 1 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.5 2 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.5 3 of 3 J.S. Bach Organ Works Vol.6 Chorale Preludes		Peter Hurford Wikipedia page Bach Cantatas Web Site Peter Hurford Discogs page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Peter Hurford Organ Live Page
Peter Hurford O.B.E. was born born 22nd November 1930 in Minehead, Somerset. He studied both music and law at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating with dual degrees. Peter subsequently studied in Paris under the blind French organist André Marchal André Marchal 6th Feb 1894 – 27th Aug 1980 André Marchal was born blind. He studied the organ under Eugène Gigout at the Paris Conservatoire. André Marchal Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Improvisation on theme of George Dyson , exploring music of the Baroque period. He is best known for his interpretations of Bach, having recorded the complete Bach organ works for Decca and BBC Radio 3. Organist of Holy Trinity, Leamington Spa; St. Albans Cathedral; organist in residence at Cincinnati University; acting organist of St. John’s College, Cambridge. Professor at the University of Western Ontario.
Paul Jacobs	1977 -	Paul Jacobs FaceBook page Paul Jacobs YouTube channel
Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29 - Bach on Bach and the Pipe Organ Octaves - Jeanne Demessieux Reverie - Wayne Oquin Bach medley On The Bench with Dr. Carol Williams		Paul Jacobs Wikipedia page Paul Jacobs Discogs page Paul Jacobs web site Paul Jacobs Organ Live Page
Paul Jacobs was born in 1977 in Washington, Pennsylvania. He began piano lessons at age five and organ lessons at age 12. At age 15 he was appointed head organist of Immaculate Conception Church. Paul then attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, double-majoring in organ and harpsichord, while serving as organist at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Historical Park. During his final semester as an undergraduate student, he performed the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach several times, including once in an 18-hour non-stop marathon concert in Pittsburgh on the 250th anniversary of the composer's death. Paul completed a master's degree from the Yale School of Music, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Paul has performed the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen in eight American cities since 2002, each time in a nine-hour marathon concert. In 2003 Paul was invited to join the faculty of the Juilliard School and the following year, was named chairman of its organ department, making him one of the youngest faculty appointments in the school's history. Extract:- Paul Jacobs Wilipedia page
Lady Susi Jeans	1911–1993
		Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Wikipedia page
Lady Susi Jeans was born Suzanne Hock in 1911 in Vienna, Austria. She studied at the Vienna Academy in Leipzig with Karl Straube Bach Cantatas web site 6th Jan 1873 – 27th April 1950 Studied organ in Berlin with Heinrich Reimann. Karl Straube Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ and was a pupil of Franz Schmidt, You Tube Franz Schmidt Franz Schmidt 22nd Dec 1874 – 11th Feb 1939 Wikipedia page Franz Schütz Franz Schütz 15th April 1892- 19th May 1962 Studied Music Academy of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. Franz Schütz Wikipedia page and Charles Marie Widor. By Paul Berger (photographer). Breitkopf & Härtel, London (publisher). - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Public Domain Charles Marie Widor 21st Feb 1844 - 12th Mar 1937 Studied in Brussels with Nicolaus Jacques Lemmens. Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ During her 1934-35 tour she met the astronomer and mathematician Sir James Jeans just over 32 years her senior, whom she married, in Vienna, in September 1935. She founded the Mickleham and Westhumble Festival in 1954, which was renamed the Boxhill Music Festival in 1966. Extract:- Wikipedia
Wilma Jensen	1929 -	Wilma Jensen LinkedIn Page
Pipedreams Live Schoenstein Lied Organ 80th Birthday Celebration St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee Part 1 80th Birthday Celebration St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee Part 2		Wilma Jensen Web site Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Wilma Jensen Biography Wilma Jensen Organ Live Page
Wilma Hoyle Jensen was born 1921. Wilma studied at Mac-Murray College, Jacksonville, Illinois and the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, where she was a student of Catharine Crozier Catharine Crozier 18th Jan 1914 - 19th Sep 2003 Faculty member of the Eastman School, and an internationally touring soloist and Harold Gleason.
Joyce Jones
Concerto in A Minor Flight of the Bumble Bee Sowerby's "Pageant"		Morning Star Biography Joyce Jones Organ Live Page
Joyce Jones is renowned for her twinkling, virtuosic feet. Here she is on YouTube playing Flight of the Bumble Bee - on the pedals of course. Dr Jones is winding down her performance schedule as of last 2012, when she retired from her position as Professor of Music and Organist in residence at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. "It's my 79th birthday and I don't mind saying at my age, it's amazing that anyone that old can still be playing," she announced. She describes herself as an accidental organist - when she was a piano undergraduate in Texas she sprained her hand - badly. Six weeks of no playing were ordered for recovery.She occupied herself with pedal exercises on the organ, and found a natural talent and affinity for the instrument.The rest is history. Extract from Queen Of The Pedals
James Kibbie	13th Mar 1949 -
Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 551 Prelude and Fugue in G minor, BWV 535 St. Cosmae et Damiani, Stade Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Erasmus Bielfeldt organ. Prelude in C major, BWV 545 Prelude in E minor, BWV 548 Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Katholische Hofkirche, Dresden.		James Kibbie Web site James Kibbie Wikipedia page Bach organ works Free download University of Michigan James Kibbie Biography James Kibbie Bach Cantanas Biography James Kibbie Organ Live Page
James Kibbie was born 13th March 1949 in Vinton, Iowa. He graduated from Davenport West High School in 1967. James Kibbie is Chair of the Organ Department and University Organist at the University of Michigan. He also maintains a full schedule of concert, recording, and festival engagements throughout North America and Europe. He is internationally renowned as an authority on the organ music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
James Lancelot
Litanies, The Grand Organ Durham Cathedral by Jehan Alain Congregation at Durham Cathedral Graduation ceremony at the University of Durham, July 2nd 2009. 2009		CHURCH TIMES interviews James Lancelot James Lancelot Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ James Lancelot Organ Live Page
James Bennett Lancelot was born 2nd December 1952 in Bromley, Kent. He studied at St. Paul’s Cathedral School, London; Ardingly College; King’s College, Cambridge. And was an organ scholar of King’s College, Cambridge. He was assistant organist of Winchester Cathedral and is now organist of Durham Cathedral. Extract:- Biographical Dictionary of the Organ
Susan Landale
Organ lesson Sonate in A Major by F.Mendelssohn	Photograph Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.	Royal Academy of Music Web Site Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
Susan Landale was born in Scotland and began her musical education in Edinburgh. After graduating from Edinburgh University (BMus), where she was awarded a number of prizes and scholarships, she was invited by the great French organist André Marchal to study with him in Paris. The following year she was appointed titular organist of St George’s Anglican Church, Paris, a post she held for 18 years. Susan is a professor of Organ at the Royal Academy of Music, after many years as professor at the National Regional Conservatoire in Rueil-Malmaison (Ile de France), where her pupils, from all over the world, won prizes in many national and international competitions. Extract :- Royal Academy of Music Web Site
Christopher Lawton
Thou hidden source of calm repose. Compton Time on my hands. Compton Spanish Eyes - Stockport Town Hall (Wurlitzer organ)
Evelyn Lim		Dr. Evelyn Lim Facebook Page
Dr. Evelyn Lim is from Ozamis City in the Philippines. She currently lives in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. She is the founding dean of the Singapore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's of Music, summa cum laude, in both Organ and Piano Performance from the University of Houston. She studied with the renowned Dr. Marilyn Mason. Dr. Mason is University Organist, Professor of Music, and Chairman of the Organ Department of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Wikipedia page The American Guild of Organists
Joan Lippincott	25th Dec 1935 -
The Art of Fugue Paul Fritts Organ at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Fantasy in F minor, K. 608 I. Allegro' by Joan Lippincott Organ Loft Presto: from Sinfonia in D major Organ Loft	Photo by Christian Steiner Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.	Joan Lippincott Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. Joan Lippincott Wikipedia page Joan Lippincott Bach Cantanas Biography Joan Lippincott Organ Live Page
Joan Edna Lippincott (nee Joan Edna Hult) was born 25th December 1935 in Kearny, New Jersey. Her early keyboard studies were with William T. Jancovius.Born c. 1909 Nutley, New Jersey 1961–1964 Conductor Orpheus Club She then studied with Alexander McCurdy Dr Alexander Mc Curdy 1905 - 1983 Head of the organ department at the Curtis Institute. Alexander McCurdy Wikipedia page Biographical Dictionary of the Organ She gained entrance to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she was again the student of Alexander McCurdy as well as Vladimir Sokoloff. 1913 – 1997 Pianist and accompanist Curtis Institute of Music. She was Principal University Organist at Princeton University from 1993 to 2000, and for many years has been Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. At Westminster, she was Head of the Organ Department, the largest organ department in the world.
John Longhurst	23rd Jun 1940 -
I will praise thee oh lord, my strength Tabernacle organ, Salt Lake City, Utah Come, Come, Ye Saints Salt Lake Tabernacle Organ		Biographical Dictionary of the Organ John Longhurst Wikipedia page John Longhurst Mormon Musician 30-year Tabernacle organist is retiring Desert News John Longhurst Organ Live Page
John Longhurst was born 23rd June 1940 in Sacramento, California, U.S.A. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Utah. John was a Tabernacle organist from 1977 through December 2007
Adrian Lucas
Interview interview with Stuart Robinson	Picture:- Three choirs Festival Web site	Biographical Dictionary of the Organ Adrian Lucas Wikipedia page
Adrian Paul Lucas was born 14th March 1962 in Southend on Sea, Essex. Studied at St. John’s College, Cambridge, under George Guest George Howell Guest 9th Feb 1924 - 20th Nov 2002 F.R.C.O., C.B.E. , and sub-organist of Westminster Abbey before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in 1979.. Organ scholar at St. John’s College, Cambridge; assistant organist of Norwich Cathedral; organist of Portsmouth Cathedral; Worcester Cathedral. Extract:- Biographical Dictionary of the organ

Issues on this page? please let the team know e-mail