2025 Summer Organ Recital Series: Gregory Hand

Join the Basilica for the fifth performance of the 2025 Summer Organ Recital Series on August 3 at 6:00 p.m. ET in the Great Upper Church. We welcome Gregory Hand of Iowa City, Iowa, who will perform.

Program:

Prelude and Fugue in B minor – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sechs Choralvorspiele für Orgel, op. 73 – Johanna Senfter (1879-1961)

(World Premiere Performance)

I. Als vierzig Tag nach Ostern war’n

II. Nicht so traurig nicht so sehr

III. Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn

IV. Ach Gott erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen

V. Wo Gott der Herr nicht zu uns hält

VI. Wir treten zum Beten

Three settings of plainchant from Op. 59 – Max Reger (1873-1916)

VIII. Gloria

IX. Benedictus

XII. Te Deum

Gregory Hand

Gregory Hand is professor of organ at the University of Iowa. Prior to this appointment, he held the position of university chapel organist at Northwestern University, where he also taught in the music theory department. He was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan, where he studied organ with James Kibbie and harpsichord with Edward Parmentier.

Hand is in high demand as a performer and pedagogue. He has given recitals and masterclasses in the United States, France, Spain, Germany and Brazil, and served on the jury for national and international organ competitions, including the Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg (ION), the Mikael Tariverdiev Organ Competition and the Sursa National Organ Competition. His articles on organ literature and pedagogy have appeared in The American Organist Magazine, The Diapason, Organ – Journal für die Orgel, The Organ (U.K.), and Notes, the Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association.

His debut CD, “The Complete Gospel Preludes of William Bolcom” on the Naxos label marked the world premiere recording of all twelve of these landmark pieces. Critics praised the recording as “stunning” (American Record Guide) and noted the “sonorous and probing performances” (Gramophone), and the “brilliance of his technique” (allmusic.com).

He also was the first organist to play all twelve Gospel Preludes in one concert: first at the University of Michigan with the composer in attendance, and later at Princeton University, University of Glasgow, St. Giles Cathedral (Edinburgh), and the Twin Cities (MN) chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Hand has often collaborated with other instrumentalists to perform new music. With bassoonist Benjamin Coelho, he premiered Adrian Vernon Fish’s “Kassoq” at the International Double Reed Society Conference in Redlands, CA. With Amy Schendel, he premiered Patrick Schulz’s “Fanfare for Trumpet and Organ,” which was recorded for the MSR label.

He is also very active as a harpsichordist and continuo player. Past engagements include performing as harpsichord soloist for Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto no. 5” with the Des Moines Symphony, and providing continuo accompaniment for Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” with the Des Moines Symphony and Anne Akiko Meyers, “Giulio Cesare” with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and “Ritorno d’Ulisse” with Chicago Opera Theater. He also conducted from the harpsichord a concert performance of Jacopo Peri’s “Euridice” at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Hand has participated in several international organ competitions, including the Grand Prix de Chartres (France), St. Albans (England), Prix Andre Marchal (France), and the Dublin International Organ Competition.