KEN COWAN Biography
Ken Cowan is one of North America’s finest concert organists. Praised for his dazzling
artistry, impeccable technique and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, he
maintains a rigorous performing schedule which takes him to major concert venues across
America, Canada and Europe.
Recent and upcoming feature performances include appearances at Grace Cathedral San
Francisco, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, Spivey Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris, France. In addition, Mr. Cowan has been a featured artist in
recent years at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists held in Los Angeles
and Minneapolis, has performed at many regional conventions of the AGO, and has been
featured at several conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Royal Canadian College
of Organists.
Numerous critically acclaimed compact disc recordings are available by Mr. Cowan. His
most recent releases are Ken Cowan Plays Romantic Masterworks (on the Raven label), which
was recorded on the 110-rank Schoenstein organ at First Plymouth Congregational Church in
Lincoln, Nebraska, and The Art of the Symphonic Organist Vol 4 (on the JAV label), which was
recorded on the Michael Quimby organ at First Baptist Church in Jackson Mississippi. In
addition to his solo recordings, Mr. Cowan also 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). Many of Mr. Cowan’s recordings and live performances are regularly
featured on the nationally distributed radio show PIPEDREAMS from American Public Media. Ken Cowan Biography, page 2
A native of Thorold, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Cowan received the Master’s 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.
Mr. Cowan is Assistant Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider
University in Princeton, NJ, where he was recently awarded the 2008 Rider University
Distinguished Teaching Award. Previous positions have included Associate Organist and Artist in Residence at Saint Bartholomew’s Church, New York City, Assistant Organist posts at St.
James Episcopal Church, the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in New York City, and Saint
Clement’s Church in Philadelphia. He has also been on the roster of Associate Organists for the famous Wanamaker Grand Court organ in Philadelphia.
Revised April 2009
Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. 33563 Seneca Drive • Cleveland, OH 44139 TOLL FREE (866) 721-9095 • FAX (440) 542-1890 • www.concertorganists.com KEN COWAN Press Notices
CONCERT REVIEWS
LOS ANGELES, CA “Cowan’s performance was stunning. [His] playing displayed understanding of the composer’s intentions and allowed one to hear the beauty of the various families of color on this glorious instrument. There was passion and fire in this virtuosic performance [Max Reger’s fantasia on Wie schön leucht’ uns der Morgenstern]. Cowan’s careful and wonderfully sensitive musical interpretation of all the variations, and in particular, the powerful texts of the concluding verses, moved this writer to tears.” (The 2004 National Convention of the AGO in Los Angeles) The American Organist
CHICAGO, IL “… one of the most outstanding young organist on the scene today. His unassuming manner and his sure and relaxed technique hide a fiery yet totally musical approach to organ playing.” The Diapason
PHILADELPHIA, PA “His playing was nothing short of superb.” The Diapason
CLEVELAND, OH “All in all, this evening was one of the most memorable organ performances we’ve heard in years …” (2009 National Convention of the Organ Historical Society) ClevelandClassical.com
BUFFALO “His unassuming demeanor complements the dual nature of his playing – a combination of technical virtuosity and great musical understanding and sensitivity.” (2004 Organ Historical Society Convention in Buffalo) The Diapason
PORTLAND, ME (Regional convention of the American Guild of Organists) “Mr. Cowan’s technical mastery, expressivity, musicality, and sheer brilliance thrilled the convention audience.” The American Organist
JAMESTOWN, NY “ORGANIST GIVES WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE” The Post-Journal
HAMILTON, ON “… an absolutely stunning recital by Ken Cowan.” Organ Canada
“… let me assure you that we who heard this recital came away convinced of a glorious future for organ playing.” The American Organist
KALAMAZOO, MI “COWAN GIVES MAJESTIC LIFE TO PIPE ORGAN” Kalamazoo Gazette
“[There is] no doubt as to the player’s extraordinary muscle and aptitude.” The American Organist
KEN COWAN Press Notices, page 2 RECORDING REVIEWS
Ken Cowan plays Romantic Masterworks (Raven OAR 903) “… a virtuosic performance on the IV/110 Schoenstein organ in the First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln Nebraska.” “The program opens with a delightful arrangement by Cowan himself of the Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1, a favorite of pianists that achieves real freshness with the greater colors of the symphonic organ, and the technical display is just as exciting as on a piano.” Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, May-June, 2009
The Art of the Symphonic Organist Vol. 4 (JAV 166) Ken Cowan plays the Quimby Pipe Organ at First Baptist Jackson, MS
“Ken Cowan is one of the most brilliant young organists on the scene today. His program and performances here are certainly heroic, tailor made for this instrument, exploiting its seemingly limitless tonal resources. His “orchestrations” of Wagner’s Overture from Die Meistersinger rival the original; the final pages are spellbinding in Cowan’s brilliance of execution. … This is an organ of which the earlier legends of transcription such as Best and Lemare would be proud. Ken Cowan is as apt a candidate as any to inherit their mantle.” The American Organist (June 2008)
“The Quimby organ is a vast beast, but Ken Cowan is able to tame it in a programme that combines virtuosity and drive … Cowan’s articulation is particularly evident, as is [his] ability to use the many tone colors of the instrument to best effect … this is difficult stuff, but Cowan makes it sound easy, and very enjoyable …” The Organ, November 2007
“[The] Saint-Saëns, Moszkowski and Poulenc selections are arrangements by Cowan and they are splendid … Cowan’s Poulenc piece flies along with the ease and speed of concert pianists … an outstanding performance by the young artist.” American Record Guide
The Art of the Symphonic Organist Vol. 1 (JAV 141) Ken Cowan plays the EM Skinner at the Parish Church of St. Luke in Evanston, IL
“Altogether this is one of the finest compact discs I have heard in some time, and I thoroughly recommend it.” The Diapason
“This is a “must-have” for those who seek excellence in performance and recording.” The American Organist
“Ken Cowan’s performances show a good grasp of the musical architecture of the pieces and his perfect command of the registration changes means that colours and textures are seamlessly interwoven.” Organists’ Review KEN COWAN Press Notices, page 3
Ken Cowan plays organ works by Dupré, Roger-Ducasse, Bach, Lemare and Manari (JAV 129) 1930 Skinner organ, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, New Jersey
“When the artist is Ken Cowan, it is a given that the performance will be flawless and satisfying, that the registrations will show off the instrument to its best advantage, and that there will be a wide range of composers represented … this recording surpasses expectations. Highly recommended.” The American Organist
Great Organbuilders of America: A Retrospective-Volume 9 (JAV 118) Ken Cowan plays the EM Skinner at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, Detroit Michigan
“I have never heard this performed with more virtuosity, nor with a more apt use of colour … There is much to return to in this disc …” Organists’ Review
“Cowan has that innate skill to turn the organ into an orchestra. Highly recommended.” The Organ
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Curtis Organ Restoration Society CD141602)
“… awe-inspiring technique … the phrasing and registrations are superbly evocative.” Organ Alternatives
“Mr. Cowan’s performance has all the bravura and drama of the best orchestral recordings.” Organ Alternatives
Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. 33563 Seneca Drive • Cleveland, OH 44139 TOLL FREE (866) 721-9095 • FAX (440) 542-1890 • www.concertorganists.com
KEN COWAN Discography
Ken Cowan plays Romantic Masterworks Ken Cowan plays the 110-rank Schoenstein organ at First Plymouth Congregational Church, Lincoln, NE Includes works by Liszt, Reubke, Karg-Elert, and Reger. Raven Compact Discs OAR-903
The Art of the Symphonic Organist Ken Cowan plays the 1921 Skinner organ at the Parish Church of St. Luke, Evanston, Illinois. Includes works by Wagner, Saint-Saëns, Widor, Liszt, S.S. Wesley, and Karg-Elert JAV Recordings 141
Ken Cowan & Ernest Skinner Ken Cowan plays the 1930 Skinner at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Most Blessed Holy Rosary, Toledo, OH JAV Recordings 131
Ken Cowan plays organ favorites: Works by Bach, Dupré, Roger-Ducasse, Manari, and Lemare performed on the restored 1930 Skinner organ at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown, NJ JAV Recordings 129
Great Organbuilders of America: A Retrospective-Volume 9 Ken Cowan plays the EM Skinner at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, Detroit Michigan JAV Recordings 118
The Austin Organ at St. Mary’s College Chapel, Moraga, California Works by Sowerby, Saint-Saëns, Lang, Whitlock, Mozart, Guilmant, Callahan, Reger AO101-CD
Music from the Curtis Organ in Irvine Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania Works by Wagner, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Vierne, Roger-Ducasse, Saint-Saëns, and Liszt CD1416
Mr. Cowan’s recordings are available through the following distributors: JAV recordings: www.greatorgancds.com RAVEN Compact Discs: www.ravencd.com
Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. 33563 Seneca Drive • Cleveland, OH 44139 TOLL FREE (866) 721-9095 • FAX (440) 542-1890 • www.concertorganists.com