ORGANIST

Xaver Varnus was born in Budapest in 1964. His first piano teacher was Emma Németh, one of the last students of Claude Debussy. He has played almost every major organ in the world, including those in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Notre Dame, Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Eustache in Paris, the Berliner Dom, Canterbury Cathedral, as well as the largest existing instrument in the world, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia. An organist, improviser, author, lecturer and media personality, Varnus has had a dramatic impact on the acceptance and appreciation of organ music by audiences. During his career, Varnus has played live to more than seven million people worldwide, recorded fifty-three albums, made sixty concert films and wrote five books. Mr. Varnus’ videos have exceeded 35 million views on YouTube. His concert film about Bach, filmed at his recital in the Berliner Dom in 2013, became the most-watched organ concert film in music history, with 15 million views. His Quadruple Platinum Disc Award-winning album From Ravel to Vangelis, released by SONY in 2007, is the best-selling collection of organ recordings ever. Xaver Varnus has received many decorations, including the Order of the Most Excellent Order of the Republic of Hungary, the Officer's and Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit.