DIANE MEREDITH BELCHER

Program Biography

 Organist Diane Meredith Belcher brings to the music world performances of rare artistry; her stirringly expressive, dazzlingly clear, and astoundingly virtuosic playing has thrilled audiences throughout the United States, in Europe and Canada since her solo debut at age fifteen. Recital appearances have included Disney Hall, Los Angeles; Verizon Hall, Philadelphia; Saint Alban’s Cathedral, England; Saint Thomas Church, New York; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; The Wanamaker Organ, Philadelphia; Woolsey Hall, Yale University; Benaroya Hall, Seattle; West Point Cadet Chapel; The Cleveland Museum of Art; Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia; Portland City Hall, Maine; and the Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles.

Ms. Belcher has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Hatfield (England), Syracuse, Memphis, Wichita, Columbus, Georgia, and Curtis Symphony orchestras, and has performed frequently with trumpeter Rob Roy McGregor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has several recordings to her credit, including the premiere CD of the stunning Glatter-Götz/ Rosales organ in Claremont, California, which won The Absolute Sound’s Golden Ear Award for the year 2000, as well as passionate reviews from publications such as Germany’s Orgel International, which proclaimed, "Gigantic! Diane Meredith Belcher's playing is exemplary in every respect.” She appears often on radio and television interviews and shows, such as Public Radio International's Pipedreams, and was the featured organist for WHYY’s TV special on the spectacular new organ at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Ms. Belcher is a graduate of both The Curtis Institute of Music and The Eastman School of Music. She was named a laureate of both the Saint Albans (England) and Chartres (France) organ competitions, two of the world’s most prestigious such events. Her first recording, made at age twenty-three on the famed Girard College organ in Philadelphia, was hailed by American Record Guide as "...glowingly brilliant, rhythmically vibrant, consistently expressive, and full of both atmosphere and personality - in short, everything that artistic organ playing should be."

Diane Meredith Belcher is in frequent demand by her colleagues, performing often for music conventions and conferences. Of her recent concert in Nova Scotia for the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald praised her “musical elegance, clarity, projection and mastery of style… an amazing display of musical virtuosity of the highest order.” Ms. Belcher is often invited to lead workshops and master classes, and to sit on the jury of music competitions. She has taught organ extensively, and has served on the faculties of Westminster Choir College and the University of Memphis; her present post is at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also served as a church musician and conductor for over three decades, and is currently Co-Organist/Choirmaster of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia.

Ms. Belcher’s concert career is managed by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.

Last revised: August, 2006