David Houston, Organist, Associate for Music and Liturgy at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, College Park, Maryland

Program:

Intrata No. 2 (1941) – Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Petit Canon (1911) – Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)

Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 (1896) – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
5. Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
6. O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen
10. Herzlich tut mich verlangen

Neuf Pièces, Op.40 (1942-43) – Jean Langlais (1907-1991)
VI. De profundis

O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross BWV 622 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Movement Elisabeth Stirling – (1819-1895)

Twelve Chorale Preludes on Gregorian Chant Themes, Op. 8 (1947) – Jeanne Demessieux (1921-1968)
Stabat Mater: Cantabile

Rubrics (1988) Dan Locklair
4. “The Peace may be exchanged.” (b. 1949)

Mr. Houston returned to the US in 2015 after completing his master’s degree, mid-career, in organ performance at the Haute Ecole de Musique and Conservatory of Lausanne, Switzerland, as a student of Jean-Christophe Geiser. David’s final exam included Duruflé’s ‘Prélude, Adagio and Choral varié sur le thème du “Veni Creator”’, opus 4, the ‘Phantasie Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott’ of Sigfrid Karg-Elert, and the ‘Suite pour Orgue’, opus 5 of Duruflé. He received a unanimous perfect score for this exam.

Born in rural West Virginia, Mr. Houston began his organ studies at age 16 with Dr. Carol Eich on the Fisk organ opus 79 at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, WV. After finishing his bachelor’s degree in music at Mount Vernon Nazarene College, he continued his studies with various teachers including John Russell and Ann Labounsky, coaching sessions in improvisation with Gerre Hancock, choral conducting with David Castleberry, and handbell ringing with Fred Gramann at The American Church in Paris.

In 1993-1994, David had the opportunity to study with Mme. Marie-Louise Jaquet-Langlais in Paris. During this year, his work focused on all the organ works of César Franck, the music of Jean Langlais, as well as the basics of improvisation. As part of Mme. Langlais’ organ class at the Paris Conservatory on rue Madrid, David visited several of the important organs of Paris and performed in a masterclass with Jean Gillou at Ste-Eustache. Mr. Houston is currently Associate for Music and Liturgy at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park, Maryland. He also serves as Dean of the DC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.