Gerre & Judith Hancock, Duo
Organists
Gerre and Judith Hancock have lived and worked together under the same
roof for so many years, it is only natural that they should enjoy playing duo recitals
together. Their programs are a mix of solo pieces by each artist, duets, and an
improvisation by Gerre Hancock.
Gerre Hancock is a member of the Faculty of the School
of Music at the University
of Texas at Austin.
Prior to this appointment, he was Organist and Master of the Choristers at St.
Thomas Church in New
York City. He has served on the faculty of The
Juilliard School and taught improvisation on a visiting basis at the Institute
of Sacred Music at Yale
University and The Eastman School
of Music. Famous for his choral
conducting, his fine compositions for choir and organ, and his witty, musical
and electrifying improvisations, he is one of America’s
most popular concert organists. His
educational background included the University
of Texas, Union Theological
Seminary in New York City and study
in Paris. He has been awarded the Doctor of Music
degree by Nashotah
House Seminary and by the University of the South, and the doctor
of Divinity degree by the General Theological Seminary in New
York.
It was at Union Seminary that he met his wife, who had come to New
York after graduating from Syracuse
University, where she studied with
the renowned Arthur Poister. Judith Hancock is a member of the Faculty of
the School of Music
at the University of Texas
at Austin, where with her husband,
she teaches sacred music. Several years
ago, Ms. Hancock established an on-going series of organ recitals at St.
Thomas in New York,
performing several times during each season.
Recent series have included music for trumpet and organ, “Two Organists
at One Keyboard” (performed with Gerre Hancock), “The Great German Tradition”
and “The Great French Tradition.” In 2004 she was awarded the degree Doctor of Sacred Music (Honoris causa) from St. Dunstan's
College of Sacred Music, Providence, Rhode Island.
Both Hancocks appear on CDs produced by
Decca/Argo, Koch International, Priory Records and Gothic Records.
Current as of November 2006