List of organists

This article is about classical organists. For musicians who perform popular music on the organ, see List of jazz organists and List of Hammond organ players.

See also: Category:Organists

The following is a list of notable organists from the past and present who perform organ literature.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Living organists

Australia

• David Drury (born 1961)
• Douglas Lawrence (born 1943)
• Graeme Morton
• Christopher Wrench (born 1958)

Austria

• Martin Haselböck (born 1954)
• Brett Leighton (born 1955)
• Matthias Maierhofer (born 1979)
• Peter Planyavsky (born 1947)

Belgium

• Jan Van Landeghem (born 1954)
• Ignace Michiels (born 1963)
• Luc Ponet (born 1959)

Bulgaria

• Alexandra Fol (born 1981)
• Neva Krysteva (born 1946)

Canada

• Denis Bédard (born 1950)
• Desmond Gaspar (born 1970)
• Paul Halley (born 1952)
• Rachel Mahon (born 1989)
• John Tuttle (born 1946)

Croatia

• Ivan Božičević (born 1961)
• Pavao Mašić (born 1980)

Czech Republic

• Pavel Kohout (born 1976)

Denmark

• Frederik Magle (born 1977)

France

• Michel Bouvard (born 1958)
• Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin (born 1959)
• Thierry Escaich (born 1965)
• Jérôme Faucheur (born 1953)
• Naji Hakim (born 1955)
• Olivier Latry (born 1962)
• Jean-Pierre Leguay (born 1939)
• Michael Matthes (born 1966)
• Thierry Mechler (born 1962)
• Daniel Roth (born 1942)
• Nariné Simonian (born 1966)
• Marina Tchebourkina (born 1965)
• Johann Vexo (born 1978)

Germany

• Daniel Beckmann (born 1980)
• Andreas Boltz (born 1964)
• Winfried Bönig (born 1959)
• Gabriel Dessauer (born 1955)
• Matthias Eisenberg (born 1956)
• Stefan Engels (born 1967)
• Zsolt Gárdonyi (born 1946)
• Felix Hell (born 1985)
• Hans Uwe Hielscher (born 1945)
• Rudolf Kelber (born 1948)
• Helmut Kickton (born 1956)
• Otto Maria Krämer (born 1964)
• Edgar Krapp (born 1947)
• Ludger Lohmann (born 1954)
• Petra Morath-Pusinelli (born 1967)
• Mathias Rehfeldt (born 1986)
• Wolfgang Rübsam (born 1946)
• Wolfgang Seifen (born 1956)
• Ludger Stühlmeyer (born 1961)
• Zsigmond Szathmáry (born 1939)
• Elke Voelker (born 1968)
• Harald Vogel (born 1941)
• Martin Welzel (born 1972)

Hungary

• Laszlo Fassang (born 1973)
• Bálint Karosi (born 1979)
• Balázs Szabó (born 1985)
• Xavér Varnus (born 1964)
• Zsolt Kiss (born 1979)

Italy

• Simone Stella (born 1981)
• Domenico Morgante (born 1956)
• Arturo Sacchetti (born 1941)

Ireland

• Gerard Gillen (born 1942)
• Ronan Murray (born 1977)

Latvia

• Iveta Apkalna (born 1976)
• Aivars Kalējs (born 1951)
• Jevgenija Lisicina (born 1942)
• Ilze Reine (born 1970)

Monaco (Principality)

• Marc Giacone (born 1954)

Netherlands

• Arjan Breukhoven (born 1962)
• Christine Kamp (born 1966)
• Ton Koopman (born 1944)
• Ben van Oosten (born 1955)
• Willem van Twillert  [ nl ] (born 1952)
• Jan Verschuren (born 1962)
• Sietze de Vries (born 1973)

New Zealand

• Douglas Mews (born 1956)

Norway

• Jon Laukvik (born 1952)
• Kåre Nordstoga (born 1954)
• Iver Kleive (born 1949)

Philippines

• Armando Salarza (born 1966)

Poland

• Krzysztof Czerwiński (born 1980)

Russia

• Marina Tchebourkina (born 1965)

Singapore

• Evelyn Lim

South Africa

• Barry Smith (born 1939)

Spain

• Montserrat Torrent i Serra (born 1926)

Sweden

• Hans Davidsson (born 1958)
• Hans-Ola Ericsson (born 1958)
• Hans Fagius (born 1951)

Switzerland

• Guy Bovet (born 1942)
• Lionel Rogg (born 1936)
• Bernhard Ruchti (born 1974)

United Kingdom

• James Anderson-Besant (born 1998)
• Charles Andrews (born 1989)
• Malcolm Archer (born 1952)
• Martin Baker (born 1967)
• Sarah Baldock (born 1975)
• Harry Bramma (born 1936)
• Kerry Beaumont (born 1957)
• Jonathan Bielby (born 1944)
• Kevin Bowyer (born 1961)
• David Briggs (born 1962)
• John Butt (born 1960)
• Andrew Cantrill
• Ralph Cupper (born 1954)
• Stephen Darlington (born 1952)
• Katherine Dienes (born 1970)
• Clive Driskill-Smith (born 1978)
• Henry Fairs (born 1976)
• Stephen Farr (born 1967)
• Jeremy Filsell (born 1964)
• David Goode (born 1971)
• Christopher Gray
• Claudia Grinnell
• Charles Harrison (born 1974)
• Christopher Herrick (born 1942)
• David Hill (born 1957)
• Daniel Hyde (born 1980)
• Rupert Jeffcoat (born 1970)
• John Kitchen (born 1950)
• James Lancelot (born 1952)
• Anna Lapwood (born 1995)
• Adrian Lucas (born 1962)
• Sarah MacDonald (born 1968)
• Wayne Marshall (born 1961)
• Roy Massey (born 1934)
• Andrew Millington (born 1952)
• Philip Moore (born 1943)
• Greg Morris (born 1976)
• Daniel Moult (born 1973)
• Peter Nardone (born 1965)
• Martin Neary (born 1940)
• Andrew Nethsingha (born 1968)
• Michael Nicholas (born 1938)
• James O'Donnell (born 1961)
• Nigel Ogden (born 1954)
• Adrian Partington (born 1958)
• David Price (born 1969)
• Tim Rishton
• Barry Rose (born 1934)
• Roger Sayer (born 1961)
• Gordon Stewart (born 1952)
• Jeremy Suter
• Richard Tanner
• Anne Marsden Thomas (born 1948)
• Alan Thurlow (born 1947)
• Ian Tracey (born 1955)
• Alan Thurlow (born 1947)
• Thomas Trotter (born 1957)
• Colin Walsh (born 1955)
• Mark Wardell (born 1968)
• Gillian Weir (born 1941)
• John Scott Whiteley (born 1950)
• Marcus Wibberley (born 1981)
• Carol Williams (born 1962)
• Alan Wilson (born 1947)

United States

• George C. Baker (born 1951)
• Robert Bardwell
• Diane Meredith Belcher (born 1960)
• James Biery (born 1956)
• Diane Bish (born 1941)
• Grace Brummel (born 1930)
• Cameron Carpenter (born 1981)
• Chelsea Chen (born 1983)
• Alcée Chriss III (born 1983)
• Clay Christiansen (born 1949)
• James David Christie (born 1952)
• Ken Cowan (born 1974)
• David Dahl (born 1937)
• Richard Elliott (born 1957)
• Martin Ellis (born 1968)
• Jeremy Filsell (born 1964)
• Alexander Frey
• Barbara Harbach (born 1946)
• David Hegarty (born 1945)
• Cory Henry (born 1987)
• David Higgs
• Christopher Houlihan (born 1987)
• Paul Jacobs (born 1977)
• Dennis James (born 1950)
• Martin Jean (born 1960)
• Bálint Karosi (born 1979)
• James Kibbie (born 1949)
• Peter Krasinski (born 1957)
• Nathan Laube (born 1988)
• Joan Lippincott (born 1935)
• John Longhurst (born 1940)
• Douglas Major (born 1953)
• Haig Mardirosian (born 1947)
• Alan Morrison (born 1968)
• Thomas Murray (born 1943)
• Anthony Newman (born 1941)
• Karel Paukert (born 1935)
• William Porter (born 1946)
• George Ritchie
• Catherine Rodland
• Wolfgang Rübsam (born 1946)
• Geoffrey Simon (born 1946)
• Carole Terry (born 1948)
• Kent Tritle (born 1960)
• Andrew E. Unsworth (active from 2001)
• Guy Whatley (born 1975)
• Carol Williams (born 1962)
• Todd Wilson (born 1971)

Deceased organists

Austria

• Anton Bruckner (1824–1896)
• Hans Haselböck (1928–1954)
• Susi Jeans (1911–1993)

Belgium

• Jacques-Nicolas (Jaak-Nicolaas) Lemmens (1823–1881)

Canada

• Gerald Bales (1919–2002)
• H. Hugh Bancroft (1904–1988)
• Gérard Caron (1916–1986)
• Douglas Clarke (1893–1962)
• Antoine Dessane (1826–1873)
• Christopher Jackson (1948–2015)
• Rachel Laurin (1961–2023)
• Ernest MacMillan (1893–1973)
• Theodore Frederic Molt (1795–1856)
• Charles Peaker (1899–1978)
• Healey Willan (1880–1968)

Czech republic (Bohemia)

• František Xaver Brixi (1732–1771)
• Bohuslav Matej Cernohorsky (1684–1742)
• Petr Eben (1929–2007)
• Josef Seger (1716–1782)

Denmark

• Grethe Krogh (1928–2018)
• Mogens Wöldike (1897–1988)

Finland

• Kalevi Kiviniemi (1958–2024)

France

• Jehan Alain (1911–1940)
• Marie-Claire Alain (1926–2013)
• Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–1888)
• Augustin Barié (1883–1915)
• Léon Boëllmann (1862–1897)
• Joseph Bonnet (1884–1944)
• Michel Chapuis (1930–2017)
• Pierre Cochereau (1924–1984)
• Edouard Commette (1883–1967)
• Marie-Anne Couperin (born 1677)
• Jeanne Demessieux (1921–1968)
• Théodore Dubois (1837–1924)
• Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
• Maurice Duruflé (1902–1986)
• Rolande Falcinelli (1920–2006)
• André Fleury (1903–1995)
• César Franck (1822–1890), from Belgium
• Eugène Gigout (1844–1925)
• Jean Guillou (1930–2019)
• Alexandre Guilmant (1837–1911)
• André Isoir (1935–2016)
• Jean Langlais (1907–1991)
• Marcel Lanquetuit (1894–1985)
• Gaston Litaize (1909–1991)
• Paul de Maleingreau (1887–1956)
• Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)
• Henri Mulet (1878–1967)
• Pierre Pincemaille (1956–2018)
• René Saorgin (1928–2015)
• Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)
• Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965)
• Louis Thiry (1935–2019)
• Charles Tournemire (1870–1939)
• Louis Vierne (1870–1937)
• Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)

Germany

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
• Joseph Siegmund Bachmann (1754–1825)
• Clemens Ganz (1935–2023)
• Melchior Hoffmann (1679–1715)
• Gottfried August Homilius (1714–1785)
• Franz Lehrndorfer (1928–2013)
• Theodor Pröpper (1896–1979)
• Karl Richter (1926–1981)
• Karl Straube (1873–1956)
• Käte van Tricht (1909–1996)
• Helmut Walcha (1907–1991)
• Gerd Zacher (1929–2014)

Hungary

• Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
• János Sebestyén (1931–2012)

Italy

• Costanzo Antegnati (1549–1624)
• Marco Enrico Bossi (1861–1925)
• Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583–1643)
• Carlo Giorgio Garofalo (1886–1962)
• Fernando Germani (1906–1998)
• Michelangelo Rossi (1601–1656)
• Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini (1929–2017)

Netherlands

• Willem Bartholomeus (1825–1892)
• Klaas Bolt (1927–1990)
• Piet Kee (1927–2018)
• Ewald Kooiman (1938–2009)
• Gustav Leonhardt (1928–2012)
• Liuwe Tamminga (1953–2021)

Nigeria

• Fela Sowande (1905–1987)

Spain

• Joan Aulí (1796–1869)

Sweden

• Harald Fryklöf (1882–1918)
• Ferdinand Zellbell the Younger (1719–1780)

Switzerland

• Alfred Baum (1904–1993)
• Daniel Chorzempa (1944–2023)
• Fridolin Sicher (1490–1546)

United Kingdom

• Walter Alcock (1861–1947)
• Edward Bairstow (1874–1946)
• Jennifer Bate (1944–2020)
• E. Power Biggs (1906–1977) ^{[note 1]}
• John Birch (1929–2012)
• Hugh Blair (1864–1932)
• Jonathan Blewitt (1782–1853)
• Graham Blyth (1948–2024)
• Herbert Brewer (1865–1928)
• William Hutchins Callcott (1807–1882)
• William Carnaby (1772–1839)
• Stephen Cleobury (1948–2019)
• Norman Cocker (1889–1953)
• Marmaduke Conway (1885–1961)
• Melville Cook (1912–1993)
• Robert Cooke (1768–1814)
• Arthur Thomas Corfe (1773–1863)
• Joseph Corfe (1740–1820)
• G. D. Cunningham (1878–1948)
• Lionel Dakers (1924–2003)
• Nicholas Danby (1935–1997)
• Harold Darke (1888–1976)
• Christopher Dearnley (1930–2000)
• Ralph Downes (1904–1993)
• John Dykes Bower (1905–1981)
• Catherine Ennis (1955–2020)
• Roger Fisher (1936–2021)
• Alfred Robert Gaul (1837–1913)
• Harvey Grace (1874–1944)
• Douglas Guest (1916–1996)
• Joseph John Harris (1799–1869)
• William Henry Harris (1883–1973)
• Joseph Binns Hart (1794–1844)
• Philip Hart (died 1749)
• Basil Harwood (1859–1949)
• James Hawkins (1662–1729)
• Edward Heath (1916–2005)
• James Heseltine (1690–1763)
• John Larkin Hopkins (1819–1873)
• Martin How (1931–2022)
• Michael Howard (1922–2002)
• Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
• Peter Hurford (1930–2019)
• Donald Hunt (1930–2018)
• Randolph Jewett (1602–1675)
• John Keeble (1711–1786)
• Joseph Kelway (1702–1782)
• Thomas Kelway (c. 1695 – 1744)
• Philip Knapton (1788–1833)
• Gerald Knight (1908–1979)
• Nicolas Kynaston (1941–2025)
• George Jackson Lambert (1794–1880)
• Richard Langdon (1729–1803)
• Philip Ledger (1937–2012)
• Henry Ley (1904–1993)
• Simon Lindley (1948–2025)
• Richard Hey Lloyd (1933–2021)
• William Henry Longhurst (1819–1904)
• Albert Mallinson (1870–1946)
• Colin Mawby (1936–2019)
• William Henry Monk (1823–1889)
• Lucian Nethsingha (1936–2021)
• Boris Ord (1897–1961)
• Jane Parker-Smith (1950–2020)
• John Parsons (1563–1623)
• Martin Peerson (c. 1572 – c. 1650)
• Josiah Pittman (1816–1886)
• Simon Preston (1938–2022)
• Henry Purcell (1659–1695)
• James Kendrick Pyne (1852–1938)
• Noel Rawsthorne (1929–2019)
• Vaughan Richardson (died 1729)
• John Robinson (1682–1762)
• Brian Runnett (1935–1970)
• John Sanders (1933–2003)
• David Sanger (1947–2010)
• John Scott (1956–2015)
• Bruce Steane (1866–1938)
• Haldane Campbell Stewart (1868–1942)
• Herbert Sumsion (1899–1995)
• Christopher Tambling (1964–2015)
• George Thalben-Ball (1896–1987)
• John Tomkins (1586–1638)
• Stanley Vann (1910–2010)
• William Litton Viner (1790–1867)
• Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941)
• Thomas Forbes Walmisley (1783–1866)
• Samuel Wesley (1766–1837)
• Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810–1876)
• John Webster (died 1974)
• Henry Westrop (1812–1879)
• Allan Wicks (1923–2010)
• Frederick Wilson Whitehead (1863–1926)
• David Willcocks (1919–2015)
• Arthur Wills (1926–2020)

United States

• Frank W. Asper (1892–1973)
• Herman Berlinski (1910–2010) ^{[note 2]}
• Leon Berry (1914–1996)
• E. Power Biggs (1906–1977) ^{[note 1]}
• David Boe (1936–2020)
• Del Castillo (1893–1992) ^[1]
• Twinkie Clark (born 1954)
• Catharine Crozier (1914–2003)
• Carlo Curley (1952–2012)
• Garth Edmundson (1892–1971)
• Richard Ellsasser (1926–1972)
• Dan Federici (1950–2008)
• Charles B. Fisk (1925–1983) ^[2]
• Virgil Fox (1912–1980)
• Charles Henry Galloway (1871–1931)
• Harvey Bartlett Gaul (1881–1945)
• Robert Glasgow (1925–2008)
• Gladys Goodding (1893–1963)
• Gerre Hancock (1934–2012)
• Eddie Layton (1925–2004)
• Leonard MacClain (1899–1967)
• Byron Melcher (1929–2012)
• Michael Murray (1943–2024)
• T. Tertius Noble (1867–1953)
• Barbara Owen (1933–2024)
• Richard Purvis (1913–1994)
• James Thomas Quarles (1877–1954)
• Alexander Schreiner (1901–1987)
• John Serry, Sr. (1915–2003)
• Leo Sowerby (1895–1968)
• Frank Speller (1938–2017)
• Frederick Swann (1931–2022)
• Carl Weinrich (1904–1991)
• Berj Zamkochian (1929–2004)

See also

• List of organ composers
• Organist
• Organ repertoire
• Organ recital
• Pipe organ

Notes

1. Born in Essex, England. Immigrated to US in 1930.
2. Born in Leipzig, Germany. Immigrated to US in 1941.

References

1. "Obituaries: Lloyd G. (del) Castillo". Los Angeles Times. July 28, 1992. p. A20. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
2. "Charles B. Fisk". ahf.nuclearmuseum.org. Atomic Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 24 December 2022.