Organ Program Announces Changes
Kenneth Cowan, an adjunct faculty member for the past four years, has been appointed to a full-time position in the organ department. One of the most sought-after young organists in North America, Ken has performed solo recitals across the United States and Canada and has been featured at conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He has won numerous awards, including first prizes at the Royal Canadian College of Organists’ National Competition and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music National Competition.
A native of Thorold, Ontario, Canada, he received the Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Prior to attending Yale, he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studied with John Weaver. As a boy, he first took organ lessons from his father, organist David Cowan; then during his high school years he studied with James Bigham in Buffalo, N.Y. His previous positions have included assistant organist posts at St. James Episcopal Church and the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in New York City, and assisting organist at St. Clement’s Church in Philadelphia. He has also been on the roster of associate organists for the famed Wanamaker Grand Court organ in Philadelphia.
His CD on the historic 1926 Austin organ in the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine has been featured on the National Public Radio program "Pipedreams.” His recording on the historic Ernest M. Skinner organ at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church in Detroit and the inaugural recording on the new Austin organ at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., are currently available on the JAV label. In April 1999, he joined organist Justin Bischof in the world premiere recording of American composer Aaron Miller’s Double Concerto for organ, recorded with the Zurich Symphony Orchestra on the Kleuker organ in the Tonhalle, Zurich, Switzerland (Ethereal Recordings). His most recent release on the JAV label is a disc of organ favorites performed on the fully restored 1930 Skinner organ at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown, Pa.
“We are delighted that Ken Cowan will be a full-time member of our organ faculty next year,” says Westminster’s Dean Robert Annis. “Not only is he a fine recitalist, he is also an effective and dedicated teacher. I’m sure that our students will benefit from his increased presence on campus.”
Ken’s appointment is one of a number of changes in Westminster’s organ faculty. Stefan Engels has accepted a position asprofessor of organ at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in Leipzig, Germany. The prestigious school is the oldest one in Germany and was founded by Mendelssohn in 1834. One of Stefan’s final accomplishments at Westminster was planning a German organ tour during which several students will visit and play organs in major venues throughout Germany.
“We will miss having Stefan as a member of our faculty,” says Dean Annis. “We understand his desire to pursue this tremendous opportunity and wish him well as he returns home.”
Diane Meredith Belcher, who has been a full-time assistant professor of organ for the past two years, has been appointed to Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. She will remain as a member of the organ faculty with a reduced teaching load and will continue her active performing schedule.
“Diane is a brilliant recitalist, and we are pleased that she will be able to balance her performance schedule with teaching select students at Westminster,” says Dean Robert Annis.
In other organ news, the continuing education department has announced that Alan Morrison, professor of organ at the Curtis Institute, will join Stefan Engels and Ken Cowan as a faculty member for this summer’s High School Organ Week. Registrations are still being accepted for the program, which will be held July 17 – 22.
Performance Schedule for Ken Cowan & Diane Meredith Belcher
July 11 – 7:30 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Balboa Park
San Diego, Calif.
July 17 – 5:00 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Washington National Cathedral
Washington, D.C.
September 12 – 8:00 p.m.
Ken Cowan
St. Luke Roman Catholic Church
McClean, Va.
September 18 – 3:00 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Westminster Choir College
Princeton, N.J.
September 23 – 8:00 p.m.
Diane Meredith Belcher
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Philadelphia, Pa.
September 25 – Time TBA
Ken Cowan
Forrest Burdett Memorial United Methodist Church
Hurricane, W.V.
October 7 – 7:30 p.m.
Ken Cowan
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Savannah, Ga.
October 14 – 7:30 p.m.
Diane Meredith Belcher
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Albany, N.Y.
October 16 – Time TBA
Ken Cowan
Christ Church Cathedral
Nashville, Tenn.
October 23 – 3:00 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Central United Church of Christ
Jefferson City, Mo.
October 28 – 7:30 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Knox Presbyterian Church
St. Thomas
Ontario, Canada
October 30 – 4:00 p.m.
Ken Cowan
Pine Street Presbyterian Church
Harrisburg, Pa.
November 20 – 4:00 p.m.
Diane Meredith Belcher
Independent Presbyterian Church
Birmingham, Ala.
February 12 – 3:00 p.m.
Diane Meredith Belcher
Westminster Choir College
Princeton, N.J.
