The James M. Weaver Prize — Our Panelists
Ken Cowan
Panelist
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 and churches in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Recent feature performances have included appearances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Verizon Hall, Spivey Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as concerts in Germany and Korea. In addition, Mr. Cowan has been a featured artist in recent years at the national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, and has been featured at several conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
Craig Cramer
Panelist
Craig Cramer is a Professor of Organ at the University of Notre Dame. He also serves as organist at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church in Elkhart, Indiana. Cramer holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the Eastman School of Music where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance. The Eastman School also awarded him the prestigious Performer’s Certificate in Organ. He has studied with Russell Saunders, William Hays, James Drake, David Boe, and André Marchal (Paris). Cramer has performed for conventions of the American Guild of Organist and the Organ Historical Society. He has also appeared as a soloist with a number of different orchestras.
Bill Czelusniak
Panelist
Bill Czelusniak is President of Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc., Northampton, Massachusetts, the company founded in November 1971 with the late business partner, Francis E. Dugal, for pipe organ tuning and maintenance services. Incorporated in January 1978, the company grew into full organbuilding activity and has been recognized for high-quality tonal, restoration, and preservation work. Bill is an active member of the Organ Historical Society, the American Guild of Organists, the American Institute of Organbuilders, the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, and of the American Theatre Organ Society. Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal, Inc. is a member of the International Society of Organbuilders.
Damin Spritzer
Panelist
Dr. Damin Spritzer is Area Chair/Associate Professor of Organ at the University of Oklahoma, Interim Director of Music for St. Thomas More in Norman, Oklahoma, and Artist-in-Residence for Cathedral Arts at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Dallas. She has performed in Israel, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Norway, France, England, and throughout the US. She has released five critically-acclaimed CDs recorded in France, the US, and England. Her organ degrees are DMA from the University of North Texas, an MM is from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and her BM is from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Carole Terry
Panelist
Carole Terry’s career as a renowned performer and teacher of the organ and harpsichord have taken her to many cities and universities throughout the United States, as well as Europe and the Far East. She has adjudicated many American Guild of Organists national and regional competitions in organ playing and improvisation, in addition to various competitions at churches in the United States. She has also been a juror at prestigious international competitions in Japan, Canada, Russia, and England. Carole Terry is Professor Emerita of Organ and Harpsichord at the University of Washington School of Music and taught there for forty years.
Contact the Committee
The OHS Mission Statement
The Organ Historical Society celebrates, preserves, and studies the pipe organ in America in all its historic styles, through research, education, advocacy, and music.
The Organ Historical Society
330 North Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA 19085 – 1737
(484) 488-PIPE (7473)
mail@organhistoricalsociety.org