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Fred Swann
Frederick Swann currently holds the office of National President of the American Guild of Organists, and serves as Organist Emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral, and Organ Artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California.
In the summer of 2001, after completing a 60-year career as a church organist, Mr. Swann retired from church work in order to devote his full time to concertizing. The 2002-2003 season was designated as his “farewell season” as a touring recitalist. He continues to perform on a limited schedule.
One commentator noted that Mr. Swann has probably presided over more ranks of pipes and stopknobs than any other organist in history. This is probably true given the size and prominence of the instruments with which his career has been most notably associated…The Riverside Church in New York City (1957-1982), The Crystal Cathedral (1982-1998) and First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (1998-2001). During his tenure at the Crystal Cathedral Mr. Swann was widely regarded as the most visible organist in the world, as millions in every major city in more than 165 countries worldwide saw and heard him on the weekly televised services from the Cathedral.
Mr. Swann holds degrees from Northwestern University and the School of Sacred Music at Union theological Seminary, each granted "with distinction". In addition to his prominent church positions, he was for ten years Chair of the Organ Department at the Manhattan School of Music and served on the faculties of the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary as well as Teacher’s College of Columbia University, New York City. In addition to solo recital presentations in major churches, cathedrals and concert halls in North America and abroad, Mr. Swann performs frequently with symphony orchestras and choral organizations.
In 2002 Mr. Swann was named 2002-2003 Performer of the Year by the New York City chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Mr. Swann is sought after as a leader of organ and church music workshops and has been retained frequently as a consultant for new pipe organs, including some of the largest and most prominent in the country. His choral and organ compositions are published by Fred Bock Music Company and Hinshaw Music, Inc. His many recordings, past and present, have assisted in making his name one of the best known throughout the music world.
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