Artists

2023 First Prize Winner of the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition

Internationally acclaimed organist Damin Spritzer has been praised for performances that are “spellbinding” (Organists Review), “expressive and musical” (American Record Guide), and marked by “enormous sensitivity and musicianship” (AAM Journal). A champion of rare and rediscovered repertoire, her programming blends works by overlooked Romantic masters, transcriptions, and canon organ literature, with a special focus on newly unearthed music by turn-of-the-century women composers.

Jean-Baptiste Robin is regarded as one of the most prominent French concert organists and composers of today. With his appointment in 2010 as Organist of the Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles, he  was given a place in a long line of illustrious French organists. He also serves as Professor of Organ and Composition at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional in Versailles. 

Hailed as a “skilled and stylish player with a keen ear for orchestration” (The American Organist magazine), Nicole Keller serves as Chair of the Department of Organ at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan. She has earned a reputation for colorful, virtuosic performances praised by audiences and presenters as unique concert experiences. She has performed on significant instruments in historic venues including St. Patrick Cathedral, New York; Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Paris; Dom St. Stephan, Passau; St.

Hailed as “an absolute organ prodigy” by National Public Radio and “one of the most talented organists in the world” by the Chicago Tribune, concert organist Adam J. Brakel is a preeminent artist “with the technique and virtuosity that most concert pianists could only dream of” (NPR).

Kimberly Marshall is known worldwide for her compelling presentations of organ music. She currently holds the Patricia and Leonard Goldman Endowed Professorship in Organ at Arizona State University. From 2019–2022 she held the Hedda Andersson Visiting Professorship at the Malmö Academy of Music.

Known for his passionate and inspiring performances, Matthew Noonan has given concerts in some of the greatest venues throughout Europe, Latin America, and South America. Matthew Noonan is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, The Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton University, and the Fredonia School of Music. Besides winning multiple American Guild of Organists competitions, Mr.

Gail Archer is an international concert organist, recording artist, choral conductor and lecturer who draws attention to composer anniversaries or musical themes with her annual recital series including Max Reger, The Muse's Voice, An American Idyll, Liszt, Bach, Mendelssohn and Messiaen.

Kathleen Scheide has concertized as an organ and early keyboard soloist throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Russia, and the Far East. She often plays orchestral continuo and chamber music and is keyboardist of the Capital Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey. Her degrees are in early music and organ performance from New England Conservatory (with honors) and the University of Southern California (organ department prize).

Frederick Hohman earned the Performer's Certificate, Mus.B., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees while in the organ class of David Craighead at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music.

Jackson Borges is Organist & Minister of Music for Statesboro First United Methodist Church and adjunct professor of music at Georgia Southern University, both in Statesboro, Georgia.  Prior to his appointment, Jackson held positions with the Episcopal Parish of All Saints’ Church & St.

Stephen “Stef” C. Price recently joined the music faculty at the University of Washington (Seattle) as the inaugural Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow and Artist-in-Residence and head of organ studies beginning in September 2023. Dr. Price teaches organ performance, church music, and keyboard harmony courses. In addition, he leads ongoing initiatives toward the development and revitalization efforts of the UW program, continuing the legacy of his predecessor, Dr. Carole Terry.

Zoe Kai Wai Lei is a passionate performer known for her impressive technique and imaginative musical programming. Named among the “20 under 30, Class of 2021” by The Diapason magazine for her achievements in organ, carillon, and harpsichord, Dr.

James D. Hicks lives and works out of Bernardsville, NJ, USA, and holds degrees in music from the Peabody Institute of Music, Yale University, and the University of Cincinnati. Other studies include instruction at the Royal School of Church Music in England. He is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. Hicks held liturgical positions throughout the eastern United States, and in 2011 retired after twenty‐six years of service at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, New Jersey.

Hailed as “a great organist” displaying “phenomenal technique and sheer musicality” (Bloomberg News), James Kennerley is a multifaceted musician, working as a conductor, organist, singer, and composer. He has established himself as a tireless ambassador for the organ and its music.

Richard Webb, lauded by the Bristol Herald-Courier as “a musician foremost,” concert organist, recitalist, lecturer, church musician, clinician/adjudicator and administrator, has performed solo concerts and appeared as guest artist with orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States, England, and Spain.  His informative and entertaining workshops and practical master classes in various performance practices have been particularly well received as a complement to his concert appearances.

James Kibbie maintains a full schedule of concert, recording, and festival engagements throughout North America and Europe, including appearances at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, Royal Festival Hall in London, Dvořak Hall in Prague, and Lincoln Center in New York. During his month-long concert tour of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newspaper Pravda hailed him as “a marvelous organist, a brilliant interpreter.” A frequent jury member of international organ competitions, he has himself been awarded the Grand Prix d'Interprétation a

Faythe Freese, Professor of Organ Emeritus at the University of Alabama School of Music, is in demand as a recitalist throughout the United States, Germany, Denmark, South Korea, and Singapore. Dr. Freese is the recipient of the Indiana University Oswald Ragatz Distinguished Alumni Award for 2017. She is the first American woman to have recorded at L’Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, on the landmark instrument where Guilmant, Messiaen, and Hakim were titular organists.

Jeremy David Tarrant, Organist

Gregory Peterson is Professor of Music and College Organist Emeritus at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, where he taught applied organ, church music, and January Term courses abroad including France, Namibia, and South Africa. He also served as Cantor to the Luther Student Congregation, and was the conductor of Luther Ringers, which he founded. From 2011–2017 he was Head of the Music Department.

Cited by the Huffington Post for his “inner sense of creative flow, fueled by an abundance of musical imagination and desire,” harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa has an active career as a soloist, ensemble player, recording artist, and teacher. He strives to bring the harpsichord to new audiences by creating a spiritual communion through focused interpretations intensified by memorized repertoire.