Indiana University

Organ Department

News Updates
Photo of Marilyn Keiser with Jacobs School alumni at her New York celebration Apr 10, 2013

IU Jacobs School of Music Chancellor’s Professor Emerita Marilyn Keiser was honored by The American Guild of Organists (AGO) April …

Chancellor’s Professor Emerita Marilyn Keiser celebrated by American Guild of Organists at Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine Mar 16, 2013

IU Jacobs School of Music Chancellor’s Professor Emerita Marilyn Keiser will be honored by The American Guild of Organists (AGO) …

Complete performance of Messiaen’s La Natività Jan 7, 2013

The organ students of Associate Professor Bruce Neswick will perform the complete suite La Natività by Olivier Messiaen at 8 …

Alumnus Donald L. Smith Passes Away Dec 1, 2012

Donald Smith, an outstanding graduate of our institution, died on November 22 at the age of 58.  Don was a graduate …

Organ student Stephen Price wins Robert Fuchs Prize at Franz Schmidt Organ Competition Oct 9, 2012

Congratulations Stephen C. Price, a doctoral student in organ performance and student of Professor Janette Fishell, who recently won the Robert …

Student Michael Gebhart wins Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition Sep 28, 2012

Congratulations to, Michael Gebhart, a sophomore organ performance major, who recently won first place (an award of $3,500) in the Albert …

REVIEW: Seasons of Sebastian XIII (HT – Jacobi) Sep 20, 2012

HeraldTimesOnline.com MUSIC REVIEW: ‘SEASONS OF SEBASTIAN XIII’ Organist accomplishes strenuous feat of more than an hour’s worth of music By …

Fall Reunion Conference (Sept 17-19, 2012): “New Fingers for Old Music” Jun 4, 2012

Indiana Organists United partners with the Jacobs School of Music’s organ department to present a three-day celebration on campus that …

2012 Pipe Organ Encounter (Advanced) on track for July 22-27 Jun 1, 2012

Plans are well underway for a fantastic experience for 26 of the best young organists from 18 different states when …

Janette Fishell, William Bates receive 2012 Oswald Gleason Ragatz Distinguished Alumni Award Jun 1, 2012

Congratulations to Organ Department Chair Janette Fishell and University of South Carolina Professor William Bates, who are the 2012 Oswald …

IU Jacobs School of Music publishes 'The Art of Descant and Free Harmonization' by Dean Emeritus Charles H. Webb

In celebration of the 80th birthday of Dean Emeritus Charles H. Webb Jr., the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce the publication of "The Art of Descant and Free Harmonization," a book of more than 200 choral and organ descants that accompany a wide variety of hymns.

Jacobs School appoints Espen Jensen director of admissions and financial aid

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce that Norwegian-born Espen Jensen is its new director of admissions and financial aid. He began his activities as director March 18, 2013.

Organ conference features ‘New Fingers for Old Music’ at the Jacobs School

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Organ Department is proud to partner with its alumni group, Indiana Organists United, in a three-day celebration of workshops, lectures, panel discussions and concert performances Sept. 17-19.

Free lunchtime organ recitals continue at IU Auditorium during the 2012-13 Season
Organ Recitals

Indiana University Auditorium, the Bloomington chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the IU Jacobs School of Music are pleased to announce the continuation of lunchtime organ recitals through the 2012-13 season, performed by Jacobs organ students. The first of these free recitals is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 14, at the IU Auditorium.

Jacobs School of Music acquires significant pipe organ for Alumni Hall

Just two years following the installation of a major pipe organ in Auer Hall on Indiana University's Bloomington campus, the Jacobs School of Music has announced the acquisition of a second major instrument built by C.B. Fisk, America's leading organ builder.

Jacobs Scholar Katie Minion wins national competition for organists

Congratulations to undergraduate Jacobs Scholar Katie Minion, winner of the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition in Organ Playing, a prestigious national competition for organists under the age of 30. Minion is a student of Professor Janette Fishell, chair of the Jacobs School Organ Department.

IU Jacobs School of Music professor one of first Americans to receive England’s highest Guild of Church Musicians award

Jeffrey Smith, adjunct professor of organ at the IU Jacobs School of Music, is one of the first two Americans to receive the highest award bestowed by England's Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians.

Master organist, IU alumnus Dennis James to accompany 'Phantom' silent film at IU Auditorium
Dennis James Halloween

Indiana University alumnus Dennis James returns to Bloomington for his annual Halloween organ performance, this year accompanying the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Bloomington Chapter of American Guild of Organists presents noon Organ Recitals at IU
IU Auditorium Organ

The Bloomington Chapter of the American Guild of Organists at Indiana University will present a free organ recital Friday, Oct. 7, at 12:15 p.m. on the IU Auditorium Schantz Organ.

IU Organ professor's three-year Bach performance cycle, 'Seasons of Sebastian,' enters second year

A three-year cycle of 21 free, open-to-the-public Bach organ performances that take place at various locations on the Indiana University campus and churches in the Bloomington community will commence its second year Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Auer Hall at 8 p.m. "The Seasons of Sebastian: The solo works of Johann Sebastian Bach" is the brainchild of Janette Fishell, chair of the Organ Department at the IU Jacobs School of Music, who performs all of the concerts.

Organ student Samuel Gaskin wins first Schoenstein Competition in Organ Accompaniment
Competition Winners

On Wednesday, May 4, the IU Jacobs School of Music hosted the first Schoenstein Competition in Organ Accompaniment, an event designed to promote the knowledge, appreciation and performance of the organ's role in vocal accompaniment. The competition was open to any current organ major at the Jacobs School. The first-place winner, awarded $1,000, is freshman Samuel Gaskin, who studies with Professor Christopher Young. The second-place award of $500 went to graduate student Matthew Middleton, who studies with Professor Janette Fishell.

Organist Bruce Neswick appointed to IU Jacobs School of Music faculty
Bruce Neswick

Following a national search, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music announces that organist Bruce Neswick will join its faculty as associate professor of music (organ) in the fall of 2011, pending approval by the Trustees of Indiana University. "The Jacobs School of Music Organ Department is delighted to welcome Bruce Neswick to our faculty," said department chair Janette Fishell. "He is an undisputed master practitioner of sacred music, and his expertise in the areas of improvisation, choral training, accompanying and composition is rounded off by a full command of the concert literature."

IU Organ professor to commence 'Seasons of Sebastian,' a three-year Bach performance cycle

Commencing with a free concert at Auer Hall Oct. 5 at 8 p.m., IU Organ Professor Janette Fishell will present "The Seasons of Sebastian: The solo works of Johann Sebastian Bach," a three-year cycle of 21 free, open-to-the-public Bach organ performances that take place at various locations on campus and churches in the Bloomington community. The works are organized into "secular" -- the seasons of Bach's life, performed on the IU campus -- and the "spiritual" seasons of his faith, performed at area churches, with some "cross-pollination" to keep each concert as artistically significant as possible.

Jacobs School Organ Department hosts fall Organ Conference

Kicking off the new year in style, the IU Jacobs School of Music Organ Department has teamed up with its alumni counterpart, Indiana Organists United, to host "Bach to School," a reunion conference weekend, Sept. 16-18 (Thursday-Saturday) that includes the world premiere of a new scholarly edition of J. S. Bach's monumental pedagogical work Clavier-Übung, Volume III.

IU Jacobs School of Music student wins national organ competition

Dongho Lee, a doctoral student at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the biennial National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP) July 6 in Washington, D.C. The competition is sponsored by the American Guild of Organists.

2010 IU Summer Music Festival includes soprano Angela Brown, USA International Harp Competition, tributes to Schumann and Chopin

Featuring more than 50 free and ticketed events running from June 19 through Aug. 10, the 2010 Indiana University Summer Music Festival on the IU Bloomington campus welcomes alumna soprano Angela Brown and the 8th USA International Harp Competition, and celebrates the 200th anniversary of composers Robert Schumann and Frederic Chopin's birth. In addition, an array of world-class orchestral concerts, chamber music, piano recitals, band concerts, percussion and other special events will be offered. Tickets are on sale starting Friday, May 28.

IU Jacobs School of Music announces live Internet and radio events for Seward Organ dedication this weekend

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and WFIU Public Radio announce that there will be two live media events during the dedication concerts of the Jacobs School's Maidee H. and Jackson A. Seward Organ April 30-May 2. The inaugural concert will be video-streamed on Friday, April 30, at 8 p.m. at http://music.indiana.edu. In addition, WFIU Public Radio will live-broadcast most of the Sunday, May 2, performance, starting at 3:50 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m., through 103.7 FM (in Bloomington) and wfiu.org. There are no more tickets available for any of the three dedication concerts in Auer Hall.

Jacobs School announces Spring Recital on the Metz Carillon

The Indiana University School of Music is pleased to announce a carillon recital by John Gouwens, Organist and Carillonneur of the Indiana Culver Academies. The program - open to the public - will be presented on Saturday, April 3, at 1:00 P.M. on the Arthur Metz Carillon off of North Jordan Avenue, on the IU campus in Bloomington.

IU Jacobs School of Music prepares to dedicate Seward organ

For the first time in its history, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music has an organ of international distinction to equal the outstanding caliber of its organ faculty and students. The school is preparing a celebration at the end of spring semester. These concerts are free but ticketed; no more tickets are available.

IU Auditorium welcomes home Jacobs alumnus Dennis James for Halloween concert
Dennis James

Indiana University alumnus Dennis James returns to IU Auditorium for his annual Halloween organ performance, this year accompanying Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Blackmail, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. Audience members who arrive by 7:30 p.m. will be eligible to compete in the B97-sponsored costume contest in the categories of "Scariest Costume," "Most Creative Costume" and "Best Overall."

IU Auditorium and Bloomington AGO Chapter to present noontime organ recitals
IU Auditorium Organ Pipes

IU Auditorium and the Bloomington chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present a series of noontime organ recitals performed by the IU Jacobs School of Music organ students beginning Sept. 17 at 12:15 p.m. "We're very excited to provide these talented students the opportunity to perform on the grand IU Auditorium organ, and at the same time restore an IU tradition dating back to the 1950s," said IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher. "We look forward to opening our doors to the campus and the community, inviting folks to enjoy their lunch break while enjoying inspiring performances by members of the AGO. "

Organist Jeffrey Smith appointed to Jacobs faculty

Coinciding with the installation of a new pipe organ in Indiana University's Auer Hall, the Jacobs School of Music announced the appointment of acclaimed organist Jeffrey Smith, who will join the Jacobs faculty roster as a visiting associate professor in the fall of 2009.

IU Jacobs School of Music appoints organist Jeffrey Smith to faculty

Coinciding with the installation of a new pipe organ in Indiana University's Auer Hall, the Jacobs School of Music announced the appointment of acclaimed organist Jeffrey Smith, who will join the Jacobs faculty roster as a visiting associate professor in the fall of 2009.

Janette Fishell and Todd Wilson to join Jacobs School Organ Department

The IU Jacobs School of Music announced today (March 27) that it has appointed not one but two internationally prominent performer-teachers to its ranks. Organists Janette Fishell and Todd Wilson will begin their tenure as professors of music in the fall of 2008.