On the Arents Memorial Organ:

Tu es petra, from Esquisses Byzantines


from Livre du Saint Sacrement
I. Adoro te
V. Puer natus est nobis

Fantasie über den Choral Wie schön leucht’t uns der Morgenstern, Op. 40, No. 1

Henri Mulet
(1878-1967)

Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992)


Max Reger
(1873-1916)

JOHN SCOTT, LVO, D.Mus, began his musical career as a Chorister at Wakefield Cathedral in Yorkshire, UK. While still at school he gained the diplomas of the Royal College of Organists, winning the major prizes. He was Organ Scholar of St. John’s College, Cambridge, acting as Assistant to Dr. George Guest, and during this time, continued his studies with Dame Gillian Weir. On leaving Cambridge he became Assistant Organist at both St. Paul’s and Southwark Cathedrals, later becoming Sub-Organist of St. Paul’s, and in 1990 succeeding Christopher Dearnley as Organist and Director of Music. Under his direction, the St. Paul’s Choir toured three continents, made many recordings and performed with most of the London orchestras. In the summer of 2004, he took up the post of Organist and Director of Music at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, in succession to Dr. Gerre Hancock. As an organist, John Scott has performed in five continents, premiered many new works written for him, and worked with various specialist ensembles. He is a first-prize winner from the Manchester International Organ Competition (1978) and the Leipzig J.S. Bach Competition (1984); in 1998 he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Dr. Scott is a Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists and has been a jury member for a number of international competitions – Dublin, Chartres, Dallas, St Albans and Erfurt. Recent engagements have included concerts in Cologne Cathedral, St Bavo Haarlem, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Gloucester Cathedral, Notre Dame in Paris, and London’s Royal Albert Hall. In the fall of 2007 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music (honoris causa) from Nashota House, Wisconsin, for his services to Church Music. Beginning in October of this year, Dr. Scott will present the complete organ works of Messiaen in a series of six recitals, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth.