Lars Gjerde

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Lars Gjerde (b.1980), from Aure, Norway, began organ studies at the age of nine. In 2002, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and German summa cum laude from Augustana College of Liberal Arts in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During his studies, Lars served as the College Chapel Organist and accompanied college choral and opera ensembles on several occasions. In 2000, he was the Second National Winner in the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Organ Competition. He received an Honorable Mention in the 2002 Reuter/Augustana Arts National Undergraduate Organ Competition in Denver, Colorado.

Lars completed the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree at the Edvard Grieg Academy of Music in Bergen, Norway, in 2004, earning the highest grade for his organ examination. He served as Organist and Choir Director at First Methodist Church, Bergen, and sang with Sandviken Kantori and the prestigious Bergen Domkantori.

Lars currently holds a graduate award at the Eastman School of Music, where he completed his Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature in 2007, and is now pursuing the Sacred Music Diploma and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance and Literature degree. He studies organ with David Higgs. Lars held the position of Assistant Musician at The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester, from 2004 till 2007, and sings alto with the Christ Church Schola Cantorum under the direction of Stephen Kennedy. He is the recepient of a number of scholarships and awards for his academic and musical work. Lars has performed and participated in masterclasses and academies around America and Europe and was recently heard playing on the national public radio show Pipedreams.