Episode 3: David von Behren - Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at The Memorial Church at Harvard University

Concert Organist David von Behren and Host of Classically Minded, Garrett John Law, discuss what life is like for organists during quarantine.

David von Behren is the recently-appointed Assistant University Organist and Choirmaster of the Memorial Church at Harvard University. 

He earned his Master of Music degree at Yale University’s School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music, studying organ with Martin Jean and improvisation with Jeffrey Brillhart. 

He is also a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and music theory (double degree), pursuing organ studies with Todd Wilson. 

Von Behren is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University College of Fine Arts where he studies with Peter Sykes.

Awarded the 2018 Mary Baker Prize in Organ Accompanying and 2019 Richard Paul DeLong Prize in Church Music, von Behren served as organ scholar at Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven, Conn., under the direction of Walden Moore, working with the Trinity Choir of Men & Boys and Choir of Men & Girls. 

Prior to his appointment at Trinity on the Green, he served four years as organ scholar at Plymouth Church UCC in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Von Behren is the first organist to receive the Cleveland Institute of Music’s prestigious Darius Milhaud Award, given each year to a student “who displays qualities of unusual talent and creativity, sensitivity, expressiveness, strong love for and dedication to the musical arts, outstanding musical accomplishment, and evidence of academic excellence.” 

He also was named one of The Diapason’s “20 Under 30” Class of 2016. The winner of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award on National Public Radio's (NPR) From the Top, David’s live radio performance has reached over half a million listeners. David continues to concertize extensively throughout the United States and Europe.

A native of Falls City, Nebraska David actively advocates for introducing and exciting younger audiences about classical music. In 2013, he began “The Little Stars Summer Program,” a music program for 3-11 year-old children in Falls City, in association with NPR’s From the Top and The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. 

As a violinist, David has performed in orchestra festivals at Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center. He frequently serves on teaching faculties for POEs (Pipe Organ Encounters) and various organ camps/festivals. 

In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and running half marathons costumed as various superheroes. David is represented by Concert Artist Cooperative management.