The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

ADAM BRAKEL, GPD1

Adam began his musical studies at the age of four and studied piano with Barbara Terihay and Lisa Milazzo Gojkovich in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In high school, Adam began jazz piano improvisation and music theory lessons with Jerry Lucarelli, with whom he credits much of his success. He also established Adam in Pittsburgh's most prominent restaurants, hotels and clubs as a cocktail pianist. As a junior in high school, Adam was awarded an American Guild of Organists Scholarship through the Pittsburgh Chapter for study on the pipe organ, and studied with Dr. William Lindberg before entering Duquesne Universiy. While at Duquesne, Adam studied organ with Dr. John Walker, Dr. Ann Labounsky, and Dr. David Craighead and also studied harpsichord with Rebecca Rollett and performed in various solo and chamber group settings.

Adam served as Organist at Homestead United Presbyterian Church in Homestead, PA., then  became the Associate Organist at St. Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral in Pittsburgh. While there, he accompanied the Cathedral Choir, and played for hundreds of masses, weddings, funerals and events each year and was also featured a few times per week on television broadcasts throughout western Pennsylvania. Adam has been featured on major news stations in Pittsburgh, and recently taped a special for WQED-TV. He was taped for his first appearance on the National Organ Radio Show "Pipedreams'.

As a performer and winner of many competitions, Adam has been called "A player of impeccable technique and possessing a huge repertoire for such a young age." He has performed throughout the United States : Connecticut, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Kansas, West Virginia, Illinois, New York and Maryland.

In 2006, Adam graduated from Duquesne University Magna cum laude with a degree in Organ Performance/Sacred Music and was awarded the prestigious Andre Marchal Award for Excellence in Performance. Adam continued his studies at Juilliard in New York, where he received the John Dexter Bush Scholarship award and the Alice Tully Award. While at Juilliard, Adam premiered a new organ work by Michael Gilbertson. In New York, Adam was Assistant Organist at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue. In September of 2007, he bagan his Masters degree studies at Peabody receiving numberous scholarship awards. He  is in the studio of Donald S. Sutherland.

Between degree programs, he was appointed Organist at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. At the request of the organ company, he has just completed a CD on the Cathedral's Rodgers organ.

In Baltimore, he became the Principal Organist at St. Jane de Chantal Parish, in Bethesda, Md.

Felix Hell DMA1

The 22 year old German organist Felix Hell, is a phenomenon in several ways. He is probably the "most well known young concert organist worldwide" (John Weaver), and "undoubtedly one of the major talents of the century" (Fred Swann). He "sets standards that many established and honored older players would struggle to equal" (The American Organist).

A liturgical organist at the age of eight, he has performed concerts since the age of nine, and in his young career, has performed over 400 concerts in his native Germany, in Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Russia, and the USA. In America, his adopted home country, he has performed over 250 recitals in 38 states. As an orchestral guest, he has performed with the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra, USA, and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada under Boris Brott, and the Orchestra of the New England Conservatory in Boston, under Jens Georg Bachmann.

Felix Hell was born on September 14, 1985, in Frankenthal/Pfalz, Germany. He took his first piano lesson at the age of seven, followed by his first organ lesson shortly after his eighth birthday. On Easter 1994, at the age of eight, he performed in his first service as a liturgical organist. Also in 1994, he particpated in the German competition for young musicians "Jugend musiziert", and was awarded with two first prizes in organ playing, followed by first prizes in 1996 (piano), 1997 (organ) and 1999 (piano).

Mr. Hell pursued his organ studies at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik in Heidelberg, studying with Johannes Michel (organ literature) and Christiane Michel-Ostertun (improvisation). Additional coaching during this period were with Professors Martin Lücker (Frankfurt), Pieter van Dijk (Amsterdam), Oleg Yantchenko (Moscow), Wolfgang Rübsam (Saarbrücken), Leo Krämer (Speyer), Franz Lehrndorfer (Munich), Marie-Claire Alain (Paris), and Robert Griffith (Delaware/Ohio).

In September 1999, he enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York, where he was awarded a full scholarship, studying organ with Matthew Lewis and piano with Frank Levy. In September 2001, he was admitted with full scholarship to The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (USA), where he studied with John Weaver and Alan Morrison. Additional coaching was with Martin Jean and Donald Sutherland. He received his BM degree from Curtis in May 2004 at the age of 18, and is the youngest organist to graduate from that prestigious Institute. In the fall of 2oo4, he will enter the Artist Diploma program under full scholarship at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, studying with Mr. Sutherland.

Mr. Hell's discography includes six CD's. His music has been broadcast several times, including a 90 minute solo program, by PIPEDREAMS of Minnesota Public Radio (with host Michael Barone), and radio stations of Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, and the BBC in Great Britain. He was featured on television at ABC and NBC, and in Germany ARD, ZDF, SWR, RTL, DW, SAT1, and 3SAT.

Currently, he holds positions as Organ Artist Associate at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan, and will begin his Distinguished Organist-in-Residence at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

In his free time, Felix enjoys mountain hiking and rock climbing, taking flying lessons, and skiing in Aspen or the Bavarian Alps. One of his favorite summer vacation spots is Tuscany, Italy, in combination with Chianti and Italian cooking. He loves Harley-Davidson motorcycles and fancy cars, preferably combined with his beautiful female friends!

For further information: www.felix-hell.de or hell-concerts@t-online.de

Richard Fitzgerald, DMA

Richard K. Fitzgerald is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, where he is a student of John Walker. Richard has been awarded a graduate assistantship in the Department of Music Theory at Peabody where he assists composer Dr. Joel Puckett. Richard earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey and his Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the Peabody Conservatory. From 2003 to 2007, Richard served as the Assistant Director of Music of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC. In March 2008, Richard made a debut appearance on Pipedreams in a program entitled The American Muse. An accomplished composer, Richard has published choral works with GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. His compositions appear in the Evoking Sound Choral Series, James Jordan, Editor. He has received commissions and his work has earned him favorable reviews in such periodicals as The Hymn, Choir and Organ, Pastoral Music, and The American Organist. Richard currently serves Saint Bernadette Church in Silver Spring, MD as Director of Music and Organist where he oversees a semi-professional program of liturgical music.

David Kelley, DMA4 (DIP)

David Kelley holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Theory from Furman University and two master’s degrees from The Catholic University of America, in Liturgical Music and Composition. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Organ Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, as a student of the eminent performer and pedagogue Donald Sutherland.

Active in the American Guild of Organists, David recently completed a term as Dean of the Delaware Chapter. He holds professional certificates from the Guild at the Associate and Choirmaster levels, and won the 2004 Choirmaster certification prize. David has presented workshops for the Delaware and Philadelphia chapters of the AGO, and currently serves on the Regional Nominating Committee for the Guild’s mid-Atlantic region.

David has several publications to his credit. His article “Style and Substance in the Evaluation of the Solo Organ Works of John Stainer” appeared in the November 2007 issue of The American Organist, and his interview with composer Craig Phillips was featured in the June 2009 issue of The Diapason. His compositions are included in The Crowning Glory, a collection of hymn descants; and the Delaware Organ Book, a collection of solo organ works by Delaware composers.

David has worked as an organist and choirmaster for more than fifteen years, for churches of most major denominations. Since 2000, David has worked as Director of Music at Concordia Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Delaware. He serves on the faculty of the King’s College Summer Training Course in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Royal School of Church Music in America, and is Assistant Conductor of CoroAllegro, Delaware’s premier chamber choir. 

Gi-Young Kim, DMA4 (DIP)

Gi-Young Kim is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Donald Sutherland.  She was a recipient of the Dorothy de Court prize, the Peabody merit scholarship and numerous other scholarships while she was in the Graduate Performance Diploma program. She was also awarded a graduate assistantship in 2008.  Ms. Kim completed her Master of Music degree in Organ Performance at the Peabody Conservatory and received her Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance from George Mason University in Virginia where she studied with William Neil.

While pursuing her academic endeavors, Ms. Kim served as choirmaster at Holy Kingdom Methodist Church for nine years and as organist at Arlington Presbyterian Church from 1996-2003 under the direction of Gisele Becker. She also served as Director of Music Ministries at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Washington.  Ms. Kim has appeared frequently in concerts with the Washington Soloists Ensemble throughout the Baltimore and Washington DC region.  As a featured artist, she was sponsored by KCBTV with performances in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2004.  One of Ms. Kim’s live performances was featured on the CD collection in celebration of Peabody’s 150th anniversary in 2007.  In addition, she has also been featured as soloist at Arlington Presbyterian Church in Virginia, and as soloist for the Grace Methodist Church French Organ Marathon in Baltimore.

Eun Hea Kwon, GPD1

Sujin Matthews DMA7 (DIP)

After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in her native Korea, Ms. Matthews continued her education, receiving a Master’s degree in organ performance from Towson University.   Upon graduation, she moved to Hawaii to pursue graduate studies in Music Theory at the University of Hawaii during her father’s chaplain duties at Hickam Air Force Base.  After returning to Maryland, she continued her theorectical studies at Peabody Conservatory and received a second Master’s degree in Theory Pedagogy where she studied with Dr. Thomas Benjamin.  She is currently in the prestigious DMA program at the Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Donald Sutherland.  She has served as a graduate assistant in theory and was the recipient of the Rodney Hansen Memorial Scholarship in the “High Standard of Excellence” and the Dorothy deCourt Prize.  Academically gifted, she was invited to join Pi Kappa Lambda.

As a performer, Ms. Matthews' schedule is filled with recitals, both in collaboration with other organists and as a soloist.  She has performed regionally, has taken place in the renowned French organ music marathon in Baltimore and has appeared in master classes including one in the Region III AGO Convention with Naji Hakim. She has attended international organ academies in Germany, Sweden, Canada and France participating in classes of Marie-Claire Alain, Olivier Latry, Jon Laukvik, Ludger Lohmann, Jacques van Oortmerssen and Gillian Weir.

Sujin became involved in church music while working at Air Force Chapels in both the Protestant and Catholic worship settings.  After residing in Southern Maryland for several years during which she served as organist/choir director in Presbyterian churches, she moved to North Carolina at the end of 2008 to be nearer to her family. During the transition settling in a new home, she took a short term interim position at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh and is taking the opportunity to play various organs in the area as a guest organist while preparing for her lecture document.

As a dog lover, she was impressed and envious of being able to take one's beloved pets into restaurants and other public places in Europe.  Losing her beloved companion LuLu (a terrier-poodle mix) after 8 years, Sujin adopted a 5-year-old miniature Schnauzer from NC Schnauzer Rescue on Good Friday 2009.  Gracie started her life as a commercial breeding mother and then was found as a stray in the middle of a 4-lane highway.  Thanks to a Good Samaritan who stopped the traffic to rescue her, she now is making a forever home with Sujin enjoying her new life.

KAORI HONGO MOYER DMA6 (DIP)

(For current information, go to http://pcm.peabody.jhu.edu/~khongo/ )

Kaori Hongo received her Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music (organ and Piano) from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where she studied with Donald McDonald (organ) and Ena Barton (piano). In 1990, she was the winner of the Alexander McCurdy Award.

Ms. Hongo holds a Master's degree in Organ Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, where she studied with Donald Sutherland. During this time, she was the recipient of the Richard Franko Goldman Prize (1996-'97) and the Dorothy decourt Prize (1997-'98).

After completing her Master's degree, she attended the Rueil-Malmaison Conservatoire in France, where she studied with Susan Landale, and received the Duexieme Prix de Niveau Superieur in 1999. She then returned to her native Japan, where she was invited to be the conductor and founder of several choirs, as well as teaching organ and piano.

Ms. Hongo is a student in the prestigious Doctoral program at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where she continues studies with Donald Sutherland. Her busy schedule includes being the Music Director of the Church of the Advent in Federal Hill, and assistant conductor of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute Choral Society. She regularly collaborates in recital, and continues her solo career as well. She has performed many solo recitals in Japan, the United States and France.

Kaori has attended several summer organ programs which include the McGill Organ Festivfal in Montreal and the Summer Organ Academy at the Hochschule fûr Musik in Leipzig. She has also particpated in masterclasses by Marie-Claire Alain, Olivier Latry, Joan Lippincott, and Donald Sutherland.

Ms. Hongo currently holds the Graduate Assistantship in Choral Conducting.

Kaori is happily married to fellow organist Jonathan Moyer, and they have settled in the Baltimore area. In her spare time, she likes to read and write and enjoys crocheting little gifts for others. She loves animals and hopes that in the near future she and Jonathan can get a little kitty or puppy to keep them even more busy. She has just received a book of Japanese calligraphy and is looking forward to improving skills in this area as well. Her dreams are to have a balanced life of music and family! 

Jung-yeon Kim

Jung-yeon Kim received her Bachelor and Master's degree in Organ Performance from Ewha Womans University in Korea, where she sutudied with Dr. Hee-sung Kim. While studying in Korea, she performed in many concerts and had the experience to accompany opera with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Now, Jung-yeon is pursuing her second master's degree at Peabody Conservatory  of Johns Hopkins University, where she is a student of  Dr. John Walker. She currently serves as organist at the Chuch of the Annunciation in Baltimore, and also at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore, Maryland.
 

Alisa Kipnis, MM

Alisa Kipnis was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she entered a musical school in the class of Prof. Tsepeleva as a piano major, graduating in 1986.  From 1982 until  1986, Alisa sang in the St. Petersburg Choir of Public Television.  From 1986 until 1988, she continued her musical eduation, taking private lessons in piano and choral conducting.  In 1988, she entered the College of Music and Art (St. Petersburg), where she majored in choral conducting, studying with Prof. Bogoslovsky, graduating in 1991 (cum laude).  From 1989 until she emigrated to the USA in March, 2000, Alisa held the position of musical director at St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church.  After studying English language at the Community College of Baltimore County, she entered Towson University, in the studio of Henry Lowe, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Organ Performance in May of 2008.  Alisa entered Peabody Conservatory in 2008, in the studio of Donald Sutherland.  Since August, 2007, she has been the Director of Music and Organist at St. John's Episcopal Church, Kingsville, MD. Alisa lives in Mt. Washington with her son, and her cat, Phillip.

Jonathan Moyer DMA7 (DIP)

Jonathan William Moyer has been described by the Baltimore Sun as a "superb organist". He has performed organ recitals in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. region as well as other venues such as the Ocean Grove Great Auditorium in New Jersey, the English cathedrals of Southwark, Gloucester, Blackburn and Norwich. Under the auspices of the La Gesse foundation, he has performed piano and chamber recitals in Toulouse, France, and Verona, Italy as well as Weill Recital Hall in New York City. This fall, he will assume the music position at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Timonium.

Mr. Moyer is pursuing a Doctorate in organ at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University as a student of Donald Sutherland. While at Peabody he has completed both a graduate performance diploma in organ and a Master's degree in piano as a student of Ann Achein. He has served as a coach/assistant to the Peabody Opera and currently serves as assistant conductor in the Choral Department. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano from Bob Jones University, where he studied with Laurence Morton. He has attended the organ festivals of Oundle and Cambridge, England, Romainmôtier, Switzerland, and the Summer Organ Academy at the Hochschule für Musik in Leipzig. He has studied organ in Paris with Susan Landale and has appeared in master classes under such masters as Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet, Michael Radelescu, David Craighead, Rudolph Lutz, David Sanger, and Robert Glasgow. He has served on the accompanying staff of the Interlochen School for the Arts and has attended the Middlebury College German Course for singers and vocal coaches program in Connecticut. In 2002, he was one of six finalists in the Arthur Poister organ competition in Syracuse, New York. Fromt he Peabody Conservatory he has been awarded scholarships in the areas of accompanying and organ performance. Academically gifted, he was invited to become a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Sought after as a pianist, organist and conductor, his schedule is filled with collaborations with singers and instrumentalists. He especially enjoys accompanying the Washington D.C. Wagner Society, run by the great Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart.

This past summer, Jonathan was married to Kaori Hongo in Washington D.C. They have settled in the Baltimore area, along with their newly acquired harpsichord. They owe a great deal to Mr. Sutherland, not only for great teaching, but for providing such a great studio where they met.

Jonathan is the second-to-youngest in a family of six boys and one girl, all of who grew up on a farm in Pipersville, Pennsylvania. He still loves corn-on-the-cob, bluegrass music and the smell of fresh cut grass. He is a complete Richard Wagner nut case, which seeps into the very pores of his body and even into his email address.

SUNGHO PAIK, GPD2

Born in Seoul, Korea, Sungho Paik came to the United States in 1997. While a student at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia, Sungho began organ studies with Jin Sun Cho, an alumna of Peabody Conservatory. Following graduation, he entered Peabody Conservatory as an Organ Major, graduating in 2004. While he was an undergraduate, Sungho performed in the acclaimed Festival of French Organ music, held at Grace Methodist Church, Baltimore, the Lenten Series of recitals at St. Jude Shrine, and the Legacy Luncheon, held in Peabody's Griswold Hall. Sungho Paik is a second year student in the GPD program in Organ Performance.

Song Yi Park, GPD

Song Yi Park (CAGO) is enrolled in the second year of study toward the Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she is an organ student of Dr. John Walker.  She earned the Master of Sacred Music degree in Organ Performance at Boston University, where she was a student of Peter Sykes.  She also holds an undergraduate degree in Choral Conducting and Sacred Music from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. Currently Song Yi Park serves as an organist at Loch Raven United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.