ALBERT AHLSTROM, D.M.A.
Curriculum Vitae
April 2003

Present Status:
Director of Music. organist, and choir director of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta
Faculty Member of Holy Spirit College, Atlanta

Office Address:
Albert Ahlstrom
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4465 Northside Drive NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30327

Phone: 404-252-4513

Education

Doctor of Musical Arts in organ performance (1991) Juilliard, New York City
Fulbright Scholar (1991) studying organ performance, improvisation, and composition with
Xavier Darasse at the Conservatoire National de Musique Superieure de Lyon, France

Master of Music in organ performance (1982) University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

Master of Music in composition (1982) University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

Bachelor of Music in organ performance (1979) Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey

Private Study

Organ with Jon Gillock, Xavier Darasse, Guy Bovet, Leonard Raver, and William Hays

Improvisation with Gerre Hancock and Xavier Darasse

Harpsichord with Lionel Party and Guy Bovet

Piano with Martin Bradshaw and my father

Clavichord with Joan Benson

Voice with Marvin Keenze

Conducting with Frauke Hauseman, Joseph Flummerfelt and Dennis Schrock

Composition with Derek Healy, Xavier Darasse and Charles Wuorinen

Electronic Music with Charles Dodge, Hubert Howe and Curtis Bahn

Gregorian Chant, Conducting and Harmonization with Gerard Farrell, O.S.B.

Award and Honors

Fulbright Grant for Study in France (1990) for study of organ, improvisation, and composition
with Xavier Darasse in Toulouse, France

ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publisher’s) Standard Award (for Classical Music Composition) yearly since 1990

Guest Composer at the Center for Computer Music at Brooklyn College, 1991-1992
Teaching Fellowships in the Juilluiard Music Theory and Juilliard Electronic Music Studio, 1985-1987

Music Scholarships at Juilliard, 1987,1988

Close Award at the University of Oregon, 1981, 1982

Mueller Award in Composition, Westminster Choir College 1979

a favorable review in the New York Times of a concert for organ, synthesizers and tape given with Donald Joyce in New York City during a music festival in 1989

Teaching Background

Juilliard, Teaching Fellow in the MusicTheory and Electronic Music Studio, 1985-1987

Organist and Choir Director throughout my adult life- I include this since I feel that a director’s role, especially in choirs that perform a great deal of early and modern music, is that of a teacher.
Private Piano and Organ Teacher throughout most of my life

Performance

Active organ recitalist who has been heard in concert and on radio throughout the United States and Europe, including most notably a solo concert and an interview at Radio France, Paris, as a part of the American Music Week. During this program of twentieth century American organ music I also premiered an original work. This concert and selections from it were often played on French radio for a few years.

Recitals at numerous composition conventions, a national convention of the Organ Historical Society, meetings of chapters of the American Guild of Organists, several universities and cathedrals including St. Patrick’s in New York City.

Several radio broadcasts, including one in June of this year, on “Pipedreams”, a nationally syndicated radio show, and performances on several public radio stations nationwide of organ selections and other compositions.

Within the past year I have given 3 recitals at Holy Spirit, Atlanta that have included Reubke’s “Sonata on the 94th Psalm” , Liszt’s “Ad Nos Salutarem”, Bach’s “Prelude and Fugue in E Minor” (the Wedge), works by Messiaen, Franck, Tournemire, and several of my own compositions.

I have directed and accompanied for four years now the Cappella Antiqua of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta which weekly presents the great masterworks of the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and Modern Period. This group premiered and recorded a Requiem (45 minutes) in 2001 that I composed for them.

Organist and Choir Director throughout my entire life working with professional and amateur singers, and various instrumental ensembles

Many performances as a singer in choruses under the direction of such notable conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and Bruno Walter, performing with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra in performances of works ranging from Beethoven to a premiere of a work by Lukas Foss

Many years performing as a duo with Donald Joyce, performing original music, commissions, and transcriptions for organ synthesizers and electronic tape

Over the years I have been singing regularly as a cantor leading congregational singing and a soloist in church for weddings, funerals, and weekly services. I also often sing with my wife who is also a trained musician.

Teaching and Research Interests

1) Music Performance: Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Voice

2) Music Composition: Composition, Arranging, Orchestration

3) Music Theory: Harmony, Counterpoint, Form, Analysis

4) Music History: Periods ranging from Chant and Medieval Music through Modern Music

Publications/Recordings

Horatio Parker, 21 Organ Works, Raven 1994, recorded on the 1895 Muller and Abel Organ of Saint Joseph’s Church, New York City

Historic Organs of Philadelphia, 1996, the Organ Historical Society, one selection in this CD which is my performance of my work, “Saint Peter at the Gates” performed at Saint Peter’s Church, Philadelphia

Requiem for All Soul’s Day, 2001, a live recording of the premiere of a Requiem which I wrote for the Cappella Antiqua of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta, which I am preparing now for release on the Grasmere label

Selected Compositions

“Concerto for Orchestra” for full orchestra, duration 35'

“Seven Last Words of Christ” for Chorus and Organ, 2002, duration 1 hour

“Curious Twilight” for woodwind quintet, 2002, 17'

“Concerto for Organ”, for solo organ, 2003, 25'

“Requiem for All Soul’s Day” 2001, 45'

“Kaleidoscope” for solo organ, 2001, 8"

“Mass of the Holy Spirit” congregational Mass (in use at Holy Spirit), 2000, 15'

“Mass of the Tongues of Fire” 2000, 14'

“Echoes of Christmas” for Brass Quintet, 2000. 7'’

“Hodie Christus Natus Est” for chorus, string quartet and organ, 2000, 9'

“Seen Twice” for 8 percussionists, 1999, 8'

“Now You See It, Now...” For Trumpet and Organ, 1998, 8'

“Festival Fanfare” for organ, 1997, 7'

“Yorkville Sunrise” for string quartet and organ, 1996, 18'

“St. Peter at the Gates” for organ 1994, 8'

“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” for string quartet, 1994, 15'

“The Echoing Green” for 3 percussionists and organ, 1993, 12'

“The Smile of the Cheshire Cat” computer music, 1992, 8'

“Evening Sky” computer music, 1992, 12'

“Treelight” for brass quintet, 1992, 10'

“The Windhover” for baritone voice and string quartet, 1992 15'

“Refractions 2.2" computer music, 1991, 9'

“The Vision of St. John” for organ, 1990. 45''

“That Nature is a Heraclitean Fire” for baritone voice and organ, 1989, 12'

“The Garden of Forking Paths” for orchestra 1984, 12'

“Ulysses” for tenor and chamber orchestra, 1982, 35'

“Cirrus” for 6 ‘celli, 1982, 17'

“Water Clock” for orchestra, 1982, 12'

Associations

Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers)

National Association of Pastoral Musicians

Languages

Spanish (reading — excellent; written — very good; speaking — very good)
French (reading — excellent; written — very good; speaking — very good)

References

Copyright © 2003 by Albert Ahlstrom. All Rights Reserved.