|
|
 |
|
|
Adam Brakel
Adam J. Brakel has been described as ... "an absolute organ prodigy, with the technique and virtuosity that most concert pianists could only dream of, and of having the potential to be the leading organist of his generation, all while being nicknamed The Franz Liszt of the Organ" (Florida NPR). "The Most exciting player to enter the scene in a very long time” (Rebecca Rollet- Pittsburgh Camerata). One of his country’s outstanding talents in classical organ music…not just possessing virtuosity, but a mature empathy remarkable in so young a performer (The Sequencer, United Kingdom) "He is to be commended for his devotion to the art of performance, and to music itself" (Dame Gillian Weir). Mr. Brakel is Director of Music/Organist at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He is one of the youngest music directors appointed to a cathedral, at age 25. He is also the diocesan organist for the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Mr. Brakel credits much of his success in improvisation and theory to Mr. Jerry Lucarelli, with whom he studied in his early years. As a junior in high school, he was awarded an American Guild of Organists' Scholarship through the Pittsburgh Chapter for study, and worked the Dr. William Lindberg. Upon entering Duquesne University, he began his studies with Dr. John Walker and Dr. David Craighead. He studied harpsichord with Rebecca Rollett, and gained solo and chamber music experience.
In Pennsylvania, he served as organist at Homestead United Presbyterian Church and later became the associate organist at St. Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral in Pittsburgh. He was also featured several times per week on the Catholic television station in Pittsburgh for daily masses. Brakel was also taped for the national organ radio show "Pipedreams" as a competitor during the Carlene Neihart Organ Competition. Winning several competitions, he has been called "....a player of impeccable technique and possessing a huge repertoire for such a young age." (Rebecca Rollett-Pittsburgh Camerata). He has performed throughout the United States including Connecticut, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, New York, West Virginia and Illinois. He has worked with musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony, Peabody Concert Orchestra, New York City Opera, Palm Beach Opera, and the River City Brass Band.
In collaborative piano, Mr. Brakel has worked with the Duquesne University Choirs, numerous ensembles, and has accompanied for Diocesan hymn and chorale festivals featuring hundreds of musicians. He is a prizewinner in several national and international organ competitions including: The Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition, The Reuter/Augustana Arts Undergraduate Organ Competition, the Gruenstein Memorial Organ Competition, the John Rodland Memorial Scholarship Competition, the French Organ Music Seminar Competition, and the Carlene Neihart International Organ Competition. He has been selected every time as the audience prize-winner at every competition it was offered. He was also past winner of the Keynotes for Music Scholarship Competition in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He was the first organist ever honored in this competition.
In 2006, Mr. Brakel graduated from Duquesne University Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Organ Performance/Sacred Music and was awarded the Andre Marchal Award for Excellence in Performance. He then continued his studies at the Juilliard School. While there, he received the John Dexter Bush Scholarship and the Alice Tully Award. In New York, he premiered a work by composer, Michael Gilbertson. He became the assistant organist at The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue, and performed recitals at St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Ignatius Loyola, and Central Synagogue. In September of 2007, he continued his Masters Degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University under the guidance of Donald S. Sutherland.
Between degree programs, Adam was appointed Organist at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. While at Peabody, Mr. Brakel became principal organist at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2008, he received three named scholarships at Peabody. He was a guest assisting organist at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Recently he performed the complete organ works of Cesar Franck at Peabody for his Master’s degree as well as many of his works at the National Shrine as part of their 2009 Summer Organ Festival. He was invited through the "Oundle for Organists" festival to study and perform in Toulouse, France in 2008. In 2009 as the “Oundle Award Winner”, he performed in England at the Albert Hall Nottingham, Oxford Town Hall, and Hexham Abbey. In 2010, he will return to perform at St. Paul's Cathedral in London as well as various other venues.
Recently, he was chosen to be the accompanist for the Masterworks Chorale in South Florida. He is also the featured harpsichordist/organist in the Delray Beach's Baroque group Camerata del re' for the 2009/1010 season.
For more information, visit ww.adambrakel.com.
|
| Email | Company |
 |
Adam Brakel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
