The exceedingly stellar level of musicality and the exacting technical prowess exhibited by Bryan Anderson compelled the jury of the 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition to name him the First Prize Winner of this illustrious event, and also received the competition’s Audience Prize. The Diapason, which named Bryan to its “20 under 30” Class of 2017, has called his playing “brilliant”; Classical Voice of North Carolina has described his playing as “simply first class.”
He took prizes at the 2021 Canadian International Organ Competition, the 2019 Longwood Gardens competition, and the 2009 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition. Bryan has performed at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society and has been featured on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. He has created his own original orchestral transcriptions, including works by Duruflé, Debussy, and Dave Brubeck.
Bryan is an active collaborative pianist, chamber musician, and continuo player, regularly performing with the early-music group Harmonia Stellarum Houston, the Oklahoma Bach Choir, and the Houston Children’s’ Chorus. He is also one of the few current organists to tackle large oratorio repertoire with solo organ accompaniment, such as Poulenc’s Gloria and Mendelssohn’s complete Elijah score.
He is Director of Music at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal Church and School in Houston, TX, serves as co-manager of the RSCM Gulf Coast choral residency program, and is Preparatory Choir Director for the Houston Children’s Chorus. He previously held positions at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Houston; Wells Cathedral, England; and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Tenth Presbyterian Church, both in Philadelphia. He also served as an assistant organist of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, Philadelphia. Bryan received his master’s degree in organ performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in 2018, and his bachelor’s degree and Artist’s Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music.
Bryan Anderson, as part of his Longwood prize, is represented in North America exclusively by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists, LLC.