Paul Jacobs

Grammy award-winning artist Paul Jacobs has re-invigorated the American organ scene with his once-in-a-generation gifts as a performer. He is widely applauded for his prodigious technique, charismatic stage presence, and "an unbridled joy of music-making" (Baltimore Sun). Possessing a vast repertoire spanning from the 16th century through contemporary times, Mr. Jacobs has performed throughout North America as well as in South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. In 2003 Mr. Jacobs was invited to join the faculty of The Juilliard School, and the following year was named chairman of the organ department, one of the youngest faculty appointments in Juilliard's history. He has, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted, "risen to the top of his field with unusual speed." Known for his "charismatic showmanship and unflagging exuberance" (The Wall Street Journal), Paul Jacobs came to international attention in 2000, when, at the age of 23, he twice performed the complete organ works of J.S. Bach in 14 consecutive evenings, in New York City and in Philadelphia. Later in the year he trumped that achievement by performing the complete works again in a spectacular 18-hour non-stop marathon in Pittsburgh. Mr. Jacobs is also well known for his Messiaen performances and has played the composer's entire output in nine-hour marathon concerts in eight U.S. cities since 2002--Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago, where the Chicago Tribune called him "one of the most supremely gifted young organists of his generation, " and in New York, where The New York Times praised his "supple technique and vivid interpretive imagination." Paul Jacobs began studying the piano at the age of six and the organ at age 13. By the age of 15 he was appointed head organist of a parish of 3,500 families in his hometown of Washington, Pennsylvania. Mr. Jacobs studied at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he double-majored in organ with John Weaver and harpsichord with Lionel Party. He subsequently received the Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Yale, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Most recently, Mr. Jacobs was invited to join the Yale University Council Committee on the School of Music by University President Richard Levin. In addition to concert appearances and teaching, Paul Jacobs has been a featured artist at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and performs frequently at festivals throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has appeared on American Public Media's "St. Paul Sunday" and "Pipedreams," Bavarian Radio, Brazilian Arts Television, ABC's World News Tonight, NPR's Morning Edition, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and CBC Radio. Jacobs has played with numerous orchestras around the country including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with composer Pierre Boulez. His most recent album is a recording of Copland’s Organ Symphony with the San Francisco Symphony.