Christian Lane
Recently acclaimed in The American Organist as playing with "driving energy and mature interpretation," Chris Lane is a student at the Eastman School of Music, where he pursues both a Bachelor of Music in Performance and the Sacred Music Diploma. At Eastman, he studies organ with David Higgs, harpsichord with Arthur Haas, improvisation with William Porter, and church music with Peter DuBois. In addition, Chris was recently appointed Interim Organist here at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Previously, Chris served as Interim Director of Music Ministry at Bethany Presbyterian Church, where he oversaw a music ministry consisting of nine choirs and a concert series, and as Assistant Organist at Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, where his primary responsibility was to accompany the church's chancel choir, a group with which he toured Great Britain, accompanied on National Public Radio, and released a CD entitled "Calm on the Listening Ear of Night: Music for Advent and Christmas."
Chris has studied piano since age five, and in 1995 began organ study with Alison Shafer after receiving a scholarship from his local chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). Other teachers have included Ann Thompson, Philip Day, and Vincent Lenti. In his native Maryland, he was organist at Brook Hill United Methodist Church, where he directed the youth choir and accompanied two adult choirs. In addition, Chris has fostered a passion for musical theatre, participating in, or serving as Musical Director for over thirty different productions.
In the past few years, Chris has earned first prize in four major organ competitions: the 2002 Arthur Poister National Organ Competition, the 2002 Augustana Arts/Reuter National Undergraduate Organ Competition, the 2001 AGO Region III Competition for Young Organists, and the 2000 Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition/USA. In addition, he has been selected to compete in the 2004 AGO National Young Artists Competition, America's most prestigious competition for organists. Chris has appeared in concert with the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, Denver, CO and the Greece Symphony (NY). He performs organ-duo concerts with organist Michelle Rae Martin, and as a solo recitalist, he has performed throughout the United States, including concerts at the 2001 AGO Region III Convention, the 2002 AGO National Convention in Philadelphia, and churches in Arkansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York, and South Dakota. Future engagements during the 2003-04 season include venues in seven states, Canada, and Great Britain. Included are programs at Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago), St. James Cathedral (Toronto), All Souls, Langham Place (London), and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.