Biography of Patrick Allen (b. 1961)
A native of Hollywood, Florida, moved to Tallahassee at an early age where the creative energy and expertise of the musical community around a University City had a lasting impact on his formation. Subsequently the opportunity to live, work and study in so many diverse locations and cultures has brought a fun spontaneity and depth to personal experience, quality of life and work.
Specialties: Performance at the Organ, Harpsichord and in Chamber Music, Instruction at the Organ, Harpsichord and Choral Training for Young People, Program Administration and Organization, Curriculum development.
Current Activities:
Organist and Master of Choristers at Grace Church in New York since 2000, and founder of the “Bach at Noon" and “Weekend Afternoon" organ meditation series that take place six days each week from September through May at Grace Church.
These programs take their inspiration from the daily musical offerings for the enrichment of community that have been part of this Union Square neighborhood in the East Village of New York for over a hundred and fifty years.
This heritage is based in the great tradition of the “New York" Wanamaker Store that witnessed the American debuts of Louis Vierne and Marcel Dupré, and gave birth to the modern concert organ tradition of the United States. This is the neighborhood that was home to the Guilmant Organ School at First Presbyterian Church, Calvin Hampton at Calvary Church and Vernon de Tar at Ascension Church. At Grace Church, home to New York’s first Choir School, a great choral tradition has flourished since the church moved to this location in 1846 and the organ sounded under the artistry of Allen’s predecessors George Morgan, Samuel Warren, James Helfenstein, Ernest Mitchell and Frank Smith.
Accepting only a few outside engagements each season, Allen is heard daily by the thousands of visitors, residents and church family who come through the doors of Grace Church each season. These offerings take place on the Bicentennial Organ. Completed in 2013, it is a 77 stop, four manual mechanical action organ built by Taylor and Boody Organbuilders of Staunton, Virginia.
Since the fall of 2015, Allen also serves as organist for the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at The General Theological Seminary. www.gts.edu
Allen has been heard as a soloist on the organ and harpsichord throughout the United States and Europe and in many chamber music programs. With the Choir of Men and Boys and Girls’ Choir of Grace Church he has toured Austria, The Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. He has recorded with The Saint Thomas Choir on the Koch and Priory labels. Allen has given numerous master classes at the organ and harpsichord and workshops on choir training and continuos playing. He frequently serves as guest conductor, including past programs for the Raleigh Boy Choir and the RSCMA Hartford Summer Course for Girls.
Education:
Allen received degrees from the University of North Texas and The Florida State University. He was awarded Doctor of Musical Arts and The Performer’s Certificate in Organ from the Eastman School of Music as a student of Russell Saunders. In Amsterdam, Allen worked with Gustav Leonhardt, Max van Egmond, and Veronika Hampe. In 1988 he was a finalist in the American Guild of Organists National Open Young Artists Competition.
Past Activities:
Allen previously served as Director of Music and Fine Arts at Independent Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to that appointment he served as Associate Organist under Gerre Hancock at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York; Director of Music and Organist at both The Cathedral Church of Saint John and Congregation Beth Emeth, in Wilmington, Delaware. From 1990 until 2008 he was a member of the faculty of the Baroque Performance Institute held at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio.