Justin Bischof
- Email Address: jbischof@rider.edu
- Mailing Address: 101 Walnut Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540
Justin Bischof is an internationally acclaimed concert organist and improviser with a repertoire that spans from the Baroque to world premieres. He has performed over 100 times with orchestra both in the U.S. and abroad. He won the Gold Prize at the 2000 American Guild of Organists National Improvisation Competition held in Seattle and is regarded as one of today’s finest improvisers. A Canadian-Swiss resident of New York City, he has rapidly made a name for himself as a conductor in operatic and orchestral circles in New York and major music centers in the United States.
As organist he has toured widely in the United States and throughout the world, frequently as soloist with orchestra, and has appeared in New York, Boston, Milwaukee, Seattle San Francisco as well as London (St. Paul’s Cathedral), Zurich (The Tonhalle), France (St. Eustache), Czech Republic (St. Michael’s, Olomouc), and Australia (Town Hall, Sydney) Performances with orchestra include The Milwaukee Symphony in Schneider’s Revelation of St. John, members of St. Luke’s Orchestra in Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ and The Zurich Symphony Orchestra in Barber’s Toccata Festiva.
In June 2006 Mr. Bischof was invited back to Milwaukee as soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andreas Delf in Saint Saens’ Symphony No. 3 in a program shared with violinist Joshua Bell. In addition to the performance with the orchestra he was asked to improvise by Maestro Delf on themes that were submitted on the spot. This past summer he was a featured soloist at the International Organ Festival in Olomuc, Czech Republic presented by the Moravian Philharmonic and recorded for Czech Radio.
In 2006 he was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor of Organ Improvisation at Westminster Choir College. From 1999-2006 he was Professor of Keyboard Skills and Theory at The Manhattan School of Music.
He can be heard on several recordings including Justin Bischof & Friends which includes the world premiere of Aaron Miller’s Concerto for 2 Organists with Ken Cowan organist and the Zurich Symphony Orchestra; O Hear my Prayer, conductor and organist with the Westchester Reform Temple professional choir performing works for the High Holidays; Sounds of Sunday Morning, organist with All Souls Choir and Walter Klaus conductor; Musica Viva France organist with the Musica Viva Orchestra and Choir, Walter Klaus conductor in several works including the Poulenc Concerto for Organ; and the legendary 4 CD set Great Organs of New York as one of the 23 organists featured. Some recordings scheduled for release later this year include several CDs of Jewish music with the Rutgers University Chamber Ensemble for the Milken Foundation as well as an all improvisation CD.
Justin Bischof is a highly respected and experienced producer with over 40 CDs to his credit. He has worked with such artists as Alice Parker, Jon Aler, Ken Cowan, Stephen Tharp and William Trafka; ensembles including The Zurich Symphony Orchestra, The American Boy Choir, The Princeton Singers, Musica Viva Orchestra, and The Choir of St. Bartholemew's at venues including The Tonhalle (Zurich), St. Mary the Virgin (NYC), and St. Bartholemew's Church.
Composition plays an important role in Mr. Bischof’s life, working as he does in many genres including classical and film scores. His Rejoice in the Lord for male chorus and organ received its world premiere at Notre Dame in Paris as part of a 4 country tour with other performances in Germany and the Netherlands. He and the brilliant young composer Tobias Wagner have come together to form Bischof & Wagner Productions which is dedicated to writing new music for new films that goes beyond the modern synaesthetic vocabulary.
