Christopher Houlihan
Encyclopedia
Christopher Houlihan is an American
concert organist
. He made his orchestral debut with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
in 2008, performing Samuel Barber
's Toccata Festiva.
His first CD, Louis Vierne: Second Symphony for Organ was released by Towerhill Recordings in 2007, and featured music of Charles-Marie Widor
and Louis Vierne
. Christopher was praised for his "elegant playing" and named "a major talent." His second CD, "Joys, Mournings, and Battles," recorded on the historic Aeolian-Skinner
organ in All Saints Church, Worcester, MA, is set to be released by Towerhill Recordings in 2010.
Houlihan is a graduate of Trinity College (Hartford, CT)
where he began his organ studies with John Rose
at the age of 12. At 15 he won first prize in the Albert Schweitzer Nation Organ Competition. He has also twice won the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians, and at Trinity was the first recipient of the John Rose Organ Scholarship.
Houlihan earned the Prix de Perfectionnement from the French National Regional Conservatory in Versailles where he was a student of Jean-Baptiste Robin. He was also awarded "Le Prix des Amis de l'orgue de Versailles." During his studies in France, he was assistant musician at The American Cathedral in Paris
. On a Sunday he was scheduled to play the organ and conduct both choirs for the services, the cathedral received short notice that President George W. Bush
and Mrs Bush
would attend. The Dean of the cathedral later wrote that he considered Christopher "one of the great heros" of that morning.
In 2005-2006, Houlihan was organ scholar at The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford and then at Christ Church Cathedral
in Hartford from 2006-2007.
Houlihan is currently a graduate student at The Juilliard School where he is a student of Paul Jacobs
. He is the recipient of an Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship, the John Dexter Bush Scholarship, the Arlin J. Smith Scholarship, and The Chairman’s Grant, awarded to “support a small number of students who have demonstrated exceptional potential for success at Juilliard.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
concert organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. He made his orchestral debut with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Hartford Symphony Orchestra
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Hartford, Connecticut.-External links:* - Official site*...
in 2008, performing Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
's Toccata Festiva.
His first CD, Louis Vierne: Second Symphony for Organ was released by Towerhill Recordings in 2007, and featured music of Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
and Louis Vierne
Louis Vierne
Louis Victor Jules Vierne was a French organist and composer.-Life:Louis Vierne was born in Poitiers, Vienne, nearly blind due to congenital cataracts, but at an early age was discovered to have an unusual gift for music. Louis Victor Jules Vierne (8 October 1870 – 2 June 1937) was a French...
. Christopher was praised for his "elegant playing" and named "a major talent." His second CD, "Joys, Mournings, and Battles," recorded on the historic Aeolian-Skinner
Aeolian-Skinner
Æolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. — Æolian-Skinner of Boston, Massachusetts was an important American builder of a large number of notable pipe organs from its inception as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 until its closure in 1972. Key figures were Ernest M. Skinner , Arthur Hudson Marks ,...
organ in All Saints Church, Worcester, MA, is set to be released by Towerhill Recordings in 2010.
Houlihan is a graduate of Trinity College (Hartford, CT)
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
where he began his organ studies with John Rose
John Rose
John Rose may refer to:* Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet , Canadian lawyer, politician and public servant* John Carter Rose , U.S...
at the age of 12. At 15 he won first prize in the Albert Schweitzer Nation Organ Competition. He has also twice won the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians, and at Trinity was the first recipient of the John Rose Organ Scholarship.
Houlihan earned the Prix de Perfectionnement from the French National Regional Conservatory in Versailles where he was a student of Jean-Baptiste Robin. He was also awarded "Le Prix des Amis de l'orgue de Versailles." During his studies in France, he was assistant musician at The American Cathedral in Paris
American Cathedral in Paris
Consecrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1886, The American Cathedral in Paris is the gathering church for the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. The American Cathedral is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion...
. On a Sunday he was scheduled to play the organ and conduct both choirs for the services, the cathedral received short notice that President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Mrs Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
would attend. The Dean of the cathedral later wrote that he considered Christopher "one of the great heros" of that morning.
In 2005-2006, Houlihan was organ scholar at The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford and then at Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church (Hartford, Connecticut)
Christ Church is a historic church at 955 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut.The Gothic Revival church was built in 1827 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-External links:*...
in Hartford from 2006-2007.
Houlihan is currently a graduate student at The Juilliard School where he is a student of Paul Jacobs
Paul Jacobs (organist)
Paul Jacobs is an American organist.Paul Jacobs began piano lessons at age five and organ lessons at age 12 in his hometown of Washington, Pennsylvania. At age 15 he was appointed head organist of Immaculate Conception Church, a parish of over 3,000 families in Washington, PA...
. He is the recipient of an Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship, the John Dexter Bush Scholarship, the Arlin J. Smith Scholarship, and The Chairman’s Grant, awarded to “support a small number of students who have demonstrated exceptional potential for success at Juilliard.”