Best Improviser
Sonny Rollins is a master improviser whose greatest strength lies in his thematic developmenttaking a simple motif and expanding it through endless, ingenious variations. His tone is robust and blues-drenched, making his music feel both intellectually rigorous and deeply grounded in the blues tradit...
Olivier Latry is a renowned French organist celebrated for his exceptional skill and innovative approach to the instrument. He has held the prestigious position of one of three principal organists at Notre-Dame de Paris since 1985. His performances are notable for their technical mastery, deep music...
Laszlo Fassang is a highly regarded Hungarian organist and professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest who won the 2004 Dublin competition.
Bálint Karosi is a Hungarian organist, composer, and clarinetist recognized for his expertise in Baroque and contemporary music. He gained international prominence after winning the first prize and audience prize at the 2008 International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig. His career comb...
Thierry Escaich is a contemporary French organist, composer, and improviser known for blending traditional performance with modern musical compositions. Since 1996, he has served as the titular organist at the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont in Paris, playing the historic instrument associated with...
Daniel Roth is a French organist, composer, and pedagogue recognized for his expertise in the French symphonic organ tradition. Since 1985, he has held the position of titular organist at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. In this role, he performs on the church's renowned five-manual instrument,...
Vincent Dubois is a French concert organist, improviser, and teacher who has performed in major churches and concert halls internationally. A prizewinner at the international organ competitions in Calgary and Toulouse, he became one of the titular organists of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 2016....
Philippe Lefebvre is a French organist, improviser, and teacher who became one of the titular organists of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1985. He has maintained the French tradition of organ improvisation through liturgical work, concerts, recordings, and instruction. Lefebvre has also held teach...
Edoardo Bellotti is an Italian organist and harpsichordist recognized for his expertise in historical performance practice. He has held teaching positions at institutions in both Europe and the United States, including the Eastman School of Music. Bellotti is known for his work on historic organs an...
Gerre Hancock was an American organist and choirmaster renowned for his contributions to sacred music. From 1971 to 2004, he served as the Master of Choristers at Saint Thomas Church in New York City, where he directed the renowned choir of men and boys. He was particularly celebrated for his skill...
David Briggs is an English concert organist known for his expertise in organ improvisation and performance. He has built an international career performing recitals and serving as an artist-in-residence, notably at St. John the Divine in New York. His repertoire frequently includes his own transcrip...
Yves Devernay was a French concert organist and improviser who served as a titular organist at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. He held this position from 1985 until his death in 1990, performing regularly on the cathedral's historic instrument. He was known for his skill in liturgical improvis...
Gaston Litaize (1909–1991) was a French organist and composer who was blind from childhood. He served as titular organist at the church of Saint-François-de-Sales in Paris for over four decades. A student of Marcel Dupré at the Paris Conservatoire, Litaize was known for his improvisations, recording...
Mark Steinbach is a distinguished German organist and pedagogue known for his international concert career and his leadership at prominent German cathedrals.
Frédéric Blanc is a French organist, recitalist, and improviser who has served as the titular organist of the Notre-Dame-des-Champs church in Paris since 1993. He is recognized for his expertise in the French Romantic organ tradition and his skill in liturgical improvisation. Blanc frequently perfor...
Nicolas Kynaston is an English concert organist recognized for his distinguished career and expertise in improvisation. He notably served as Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in London during the 1970s and 1980s, where he oversaw the musical liturgy and choir. Kynaston has performed extensive...
George Thalben-Ball was an Australian-born English organist, composer, and pedagogue who served as the organist of the Temple Church in London for over sixty years beginning in 1923. He was highly regarded for his flawless technique, mastery of improvisation, and his work with the Temple Church Choi...
Baptiste-Florian Marle-Ouvrard is a French organist and improviser whose career is closely connected with major churches and historic instruments in Paris and Versailles. He has held an organist position at the Palace of Versailles and later became a titular organist at the Church of Saint-Eustache...
John Scott Whiteley is a prominent British organist who served as the assistant organist at York Minster for over three decades, specializing in Romantic music.
Dorothy Papadakos is an American organist and composer who notably became the first woman to serve as the cathedral organist at St. John the Divine in NYC.
