John Walker (organist)

Infobox Person
name = John Walker


image_size = 220px
caption = at the 4-manual E.M. Skinner pipe organ–
Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2008
birth_date = birth date and age|1941|11|19
birth_place = Johnstown, Pennsylvania
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Organist, Choirmaster, and Professor
spouse =
parents =
children =

John C. Walker (born November 19, 1941, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania), more familiarly known as John Walker, is an American concert organist, choirmaster, and CD recording artist. Walker has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. He is "widely recognized for his flawless technique and execution as well as his controlled and passionate playing", said Duke University in announcing a John Walker recital at Duke Chapel. [cite web|title=Organ Recital: John Walker|work=Duke Chapel|publisher=Duke University|url=http://www.chapel.duke.edu/calendar/viewevent.aspx?id=1172|accessdate=2008-01-25 ] He is currently minister of music and organist at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, appointed in 2004. Walker is also currently vice-president of the American Guild of Organists, elected on June 25, 2008 to a two–year term (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2010).cite web|title=American Guild of Organists Elects 2008–2010 National Council|date=2008-06-30|url=http://www.agohq.org/cgi-bin/cginews.pl?record=64 |accessdate=2008-07-16 ]

Early years and education

Walker, the son of a Presbyterian minister, said he "always wished that I could be the church organist", as a child growing up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He began fulfilling his wish as a high school freshman, playing as a substitute church organist at his father's church when the regular organist became ill for a month.cite journal |last=Nelson |first=Barbara |title=John Walker Discusses Organ and Piano|journal=Clavier magazine |volume= |year=1997 |month=January |pages=pp 39–41 ] He studied at Westminster College, Pennsylvania, and at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where he earned two Master of Music degrees "": organ and church music in 1965 and music theory in 1969. Walker then earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stanford University in 1972.cite web|title= John Walker profile|year=2007|publisher=Peabody Institute|url=http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/johnwalker |accesddate=2008-01-14 ]

Professional career

Walker was professor of organ at San José State University, San Jose, California, in the mid 1970s, before becoming assistant organist at New York City's famed Riverside Church in 1979. He subsequently succeeded Frederick Swann as director of music and organist at Riverside Church (1983-1992). While in New York, Walker chaired the organ department of the Manhattan School of Music. In 1992, he became minister of music and organist at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1992-2005).cite episode |title=Walker on the Wild Side|url=http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2006/0643/ |credits="Pipedreams" |network=American Public Media |airdate=2006-10-23 |number=0643 ]

Music critics have praised Walker's organ concerts, a "New York Times" reviewer saying of his recital of American organ music at Riverside Church: "His registrations were colorful and imaginative, his technical command impeccable." [cite web |author=Tim Page |title=Recital: John Walker organist |work=The New York Times |date=1986-07-03 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE0DA143DF930A35754C0A960948260 |accessdate=2008-01-28 ] A "Kansas City Star" review of Walker's performance at the RLDS Auditorium there said, "Anyone harboring notions of organ recitals as dull, churchy affairs obviously hasn't heard John Walker... A high-profile musical personality was never in doubt, and there was virtuosity to burn". [cite news |author=Scott Cantrell |title=No one slept through this organ recital, John Walker gave energetic performance at RLDS Auditorium |work=The Kansas City Star |date=1994-02-22 |page= E5 ]

In addition to solo organ appearances, Walker has often performed with notable orchestras, such as the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. He also accompanied the New York Philharmonic in a 1990 recording of Gustav Holst's "The Planets". Walker told a radio interviewer in 2006 that performing an organ recital for a large audience is a "great thrill", but he finds it "more fulfilling" to play the organ for worship services. Playing for a congregation "singing with its full heart and soul", he said, "is moving beyond measure... through the way I interpret the texts in the hymns... it's a combination of being an organist, a composer, and a pastor". He told one magazine interviewer, "Service players create something meaningful and artistic by providing leadership in the liturgy as well as congregational participation in worship".

Walker currently serves as professor of organ performance at Baltimore's renowned Peabody Institute. Previously, he was adjunct professor of organ and sacred music at Duquesne University (1997–2006), adjunct professor of music at Westminster College (1993–1998), and chairman of the organ department at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City (1984–1992). [cite web| title=Dynamic organist John Walker to perform April 2 at Wilson College | publisher=Wilson College (Pennsylvania) |date=2006-03-13 |url=http://www.wilson.edu/wilson/asp/content.asp?id=1715 |accessdate=2008-01-25 ]

Awards and honors

Dr. Walker is a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the highest level of certification granted by the organization, and sits on the AGO Board of Examiners. [cite journal | author= | title=Summary of AGO Certification Requirements | journal=The American Organist | publisher=American Guild of Organists| month=January | year=2008 | volume=42 | issue=1 | pages=19 | url= ] He received the Professional Achievement Award from Westminster Choir College in 1984. [cite web|title=John Walker — Organ recital program|work=Duke Chapel|publisher=Duke University|date=2007-10-14|url=http://www.chapel.duke.edu/documents/JohnWalker_Program.pdf |accessdate=2008-01-25 |format=PDF] Walker is also currently vice-president of the American Guild of Organists, elected on June 25, 2008 to a two–year term (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2010).

Walker was also given a Fulbright Fellowship grant for a lecture series in 1999 at a college in Taiwan, to teach organ repertoire and hymn improvisation, along with giving weekly organ recitals.cite web |title=Fulbright Scholar Stories: John Walker |publisher=Fulbright Program |url=http://www.cies.org/stories/s_jwalk.htm |accessdate=2008-01-28 ] Shortly before he was to begin, the devastating 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake hit Taiwan on September 21, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. Walker's performances became benefit concerts instead, helping to raise money for disaster relief between October, 1999, and February, 2000. A recital by Walker, originally intended to be part of a 50th anniversary celebration of Taiwan's current government, was transformed into a memorial service for the earthquake's victims.

Discography

John Walker has recorded on the Pro Organo, Gothic, and JAV labels. In addition to several choral recordings, his organ discography includes:::* "Reflections from Riverside", 2006::* "Christmas Rediscovered", 2003::* "Romance — John Walker plays the Shadyside organ", 1995::* "John Walker & the Riverside Organ", 1989::* "Carol Rhapsody", 1987::* "John Walker, Organist — The Riverside Church", 1985 ::* "Messiaen's L'Ascension", 1981

References