JOHN WEAVER

Program Biography

John Weaver was Director of Music at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City for 35 years from 1970 to 2005. He was Head of the Organ Department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia from 1972 to 2003, and also Chair of the Organ Department at The Juilliard School from 1987 to 2004.

John Weaver's musical studies began at age six at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, from which in 1989 he received that school's Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1959 he received the Diploma of the Curtis Institute as a student of Alexander McCurdy and earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary, studying with Robert Baker.

He received Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Westminster College in New Wilmington PA, and from the Curtis Institute of Music. In 2005 he was named “International Performer of the Year” by the New York City chapter of the American Guild of Organists”. He has also served on the faculties of Westminster Choir College, Union Theological Seminary and The Manhattan School of Music. For eleven years he was at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City where he founded a famous Bach Cantata Series.

John Weaver has been active as a concert artist since coming under management in 1959. He has played throughout North America, Western Europe, the United Kingdom and Brazil, presenting recitals from his large repertoire of memorized programs drawn from every important era and national school of the organ literature. He regularly performs at regional conventions of The American Guild of Organists, and has played at several national AGO conventions, as well as at the 1987 International Congress of Organists, held in Cambridge, England.

His wife Marianne often appears with him playing the growing flute/organ repertoire. His published compositions are widely performed.

Weaver's main non-musical interests are riding trains, model railroading and hiking mountain trails.

Current as of July 2006