Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Fantasia and fugue in G minor, BWV 542
César Franck (1822–1890)
Prière (from Six pièces, op. 20)
Louis Vierne (1870–1937)
Symphony no.2, op. 20:
Allegro
Choral
Scherzo
Cantabile
Final
Johann Vexo was born in 1978 in the north-eastern French city of Nancy. He first studied organ with Christophe Mantoux, as well as early music and harpsichord at the Strasbourg Conservatory, where he was awarded Premier Prix in organ. He continued his studies at the Paris Conservatory where his teachers included Michel Bouvard and Olivier Latry for organ, Thierry Escaich and Philippe Lefebvre for improvisation. He earned Premier Prix in both organ and basso continuo and additional prizes in harmony and counterpoint.
At the age of 25, he won a competition to become Choir Organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Soon thereafter he was appointed Organist of the Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Cathedral in Nancy. After teaching at the Angers Conservatory for 10 years, he is now Professor of Organ at the Conservatory and at the Superior Music Academy in Strasbourg.
Johann Vexo has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia. He has appeared as a featured arIst in numerous international music festivals and organ series in ciIes such as Atlanta, Auckland, Chicago, Geneva, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Montreal, Munich, New York, Porto, Saint Petersburg, San Francisco and Vienna. His performances have also included notable venues such as the Wanamaker Grand Court in Philadelphia, the Westminster Abbey in London, the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington DC, the KKL in Lucerne, St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, the Moscow Conservatory and the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City.
Johann Vexo has also performed with various orchestras and musical ensembles. He has been invited to teach organ masterclasses for the American Guild of Organists and at prestigious institutions including Rice University in Houston, the Curtis InsItute of Music in Philadelphia, the University of Michigan, the Folkwang Universität in Essen, and the Aveiro University in Portugal.
He has recorded several CDs on historical French organs, especially one on the JAV Recordings label on the great organ of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Johann Vexo is represented by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert ArIsts, LLC
The St Albans International Organ Festival presents monthly International Concerts on Saturdays throughout the year.
Entrance and programme are free, with charitable donations invited to support future events presented by the St Albans International Organ Festival.
