FREDERICK SWANN

Program Biography

Frederick Swann currently holds the office of National President of the American Guild of Organists, and serves as Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral, and of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, and Organ Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California.

One commentator noted that Mr. Swann has probably presided over more ranks of pipes and stopknobs than any other organist in history. This is perhaps true given the size and prominence of the instruments with which his career has been most notably associated…The Riverside Church in New York City (1957-1982), The Crystal Cathedral (1982-1998) and First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (1998-2001). During his tenure at the Crystal Cathedral Mr. Swann was widely regarded as the most visible organist in the world, as millions in every major city in more than 165 countries worldwide saw and heard him on the weekly televised services from the Cathedral.

Mr. Swann holds degrees from Northwestern University and the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary, each granted "with distinction". In addition to his prominent church positions, he was for ten years Chair of the Organ Department at the Manhattan School of Music and served on the faculties of the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary as well as Teacher’s College of Columbia University, New York City.

Although officially “retired”, Mr. Swann continues to perform on a reduced schedule. In the past two years he has presented recitals in major churches, and concert halls in the United States, England, Germany and Russia, and was selected by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform the Inaugural solo organ recital on the spectacular new organ in The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In the summer of 2006 he performed on the world-famous organs in Australia (Sydney: Town Hall, Opera House, and the Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals, as well as the Town Hall and St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne). He also returned to Riverside Church in New York City for a 75^th Anniversary recital. In the 2006-2007 season Mr. Swann is limiting his recital appearances to 12, and will be heard in California, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Missouri, Georgia and Florida.

Mr. Swann is sought after as a leader of organ and church music workshops and has been retained frequently as a consultant for new pipe organs, including some of the largest and most prominent in the country. His choral and organ compositions are published by Fred Bock Music Company and Hinshaw Music, Inc. His many recordings, past and present, have assisted in making his name one of the best known throughout the music world.

Current as of August 2006