Recently acclaimed in The American Organist as playing with “driving energy and mature interpretation,” Chris Lane is an undergraduate at Eastman, studying with David Higgs. In addition, Chris is the newly appointed Interim Organist of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Rochester, where he has the privilege of succeeding Eastman Professor Emeritus David Craighead after almost fifty years of service. Prior to this appointment, Chris served as Interim Director of Music Ministry at Bethany Presbyterian Church, where he oversaw a music ministry consisting of nine choirs and a concert series, and as Assistant Organist at Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester, where his primary responsibility was to accompany the church’s chancel choir, a group with which he toured Great Britain, accompanied on National Public Radio, and released a CD entitled “Calm on the Listening Ear of Night: Music for Advent and Christmas.”

In the past few years, Chris has earned first prize in four major organ competitions: the 2002 Arthur Poister National Organ Competition, the 2002 Augustana Arts/Reuter National Undergraduate Organ Competition, the 2001 AGO Region III Competition for Young Organists, and the 2000 Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition/USA. In addition, he has been selected to compete in the 2004 AGO National Young Artists Competition, America’s most prestigious competition for organists. Chris has appeared in concert with the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, Denver, CO and the Greece Symphony (NY). He performs organ-duo concerts with organist Michelle Rae Martin, and as a solo recitalist, he has performed throughout the United States, including concerts at the 2001 AGO Region III Convention and the 2002 AGO National Convention in Philadelphia. Future engagements during the 2003-04 season include venues in seven states, Canada, and Great Britain. Included are programs at Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago), St. James Cathedral (Toronto), All Souls, Langham Place (London), and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.