News Bulletins
News Bulletins

TIMOTHY OLSEN FEATURED
ON NEW CD RECORDING PRODUCED BY
THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

First Prize Winner of the 2002 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance Performs Works by Bach, Bizet-Lemare, Reger, Franck, Duruflé, Rorem, Sweelinck, and Bruhns


 


August 3, 2004

NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) has produced a new CD featuring organist Timothy Olsen, the First Prize winner in the 2002 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. Released on the Naxos label, the recording was made at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester, N.Y., and at Slee Hall, University of Buffalo, N.Y. in July 2003 and features works by Bach, Bizet-Lemare, Reger, Franck, Duruflé, Rorem, Sweelinck, and Bruhns. The CD may be purchased from AGO National Headquarters by calling 212-870-2311 (ext. 4318), 800-AGO-5115, or online at https://agohq.org/store/. The price is $10.

TIMOTHY OLSEN is one of America's young organists who has enjoyed success in competitions both at home and abroad. He is currently director of music and organist at the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Rochester, N.Y. A native of Frost, Minn., he began organ study at the age of thirteen with Sandra Krumholz. Further study was with Peter Nygaard at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., where he received a bachelor of music degree in 1997. Olsen is currently finishing his doctoral studies as a student of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Muisc in Rochester, where he received the master of music degree in organ performance and literature in 2000, and the master of arts degree in theory pedagogy in 2004. From 1999 to 2002, he was David Higgs's teaching assistant. Olsen has served on the faculty of the Eastman Community Education Division as well as being a teaching assistant in the Eastman theory department. He has been appointed acting university organist at Cornell University for two years, 2003–2005.

The NATIONAL YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION IN ORGAN PERFORMANCE promotes the highest level of organ performance. For more than half a century, the competition has served as a springboard for emerging young organists, giving winning performers an invaluable headstart in their careers. First Prize includes a cash award of $2,000, the opportunity to make a compact disc recording, and two years of career management by Karen McFarlane Artists. #


The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, it sets and maintains high musical standards and promotes the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. The Guild currently serves approximately 19,000 members in more than 300 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. The American Organist Magazine, the official journal of the AGO and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, reaches an audience of more than 20,000 readers each month.

This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications at the National Headquarters of the American Guild of Organists and The American Organist Magazine. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman by TEL (212) 870-2310, FAX (212) 870-2163 or E-MAIL fathurman@agohq.org.