BIOGRAPHY

Recognized as a leading organist and choral director, Christopher Jacobson, FRCO, is active as a versatile concert organist, conductor, accompanist, guest clinician, and teacher.  Former Organist at Duke University Chapel, he founded and directed the Duke Evensong Singers, oversaw the training of the Chapel’s organ scholars, and played the organ for over 150 services each year.  

 

As a soloist, Mr. Jacobson has presented organ recitals across North America, Europe, and Australia.  His recordings appear on the Dutch record label Pentatone Classics both as an organ soloist and accompanist.  He has won top prizes in numerous organ competitions, including the National Young Artist Competition of the American Guild of Organists, the Miami International Organ Competition, and the John R. Rodland Competition in sacred music.  In addition to maintaining an active recital schedule, he has presented performances of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach across the United States to critical acclaim.  

 

An active ensemble performer Mr. Jacobson is in demand as an accompanist and continuo player.  He is a 2017 Grammy-nominated organist for his work with conductor Brian A. Schmidt and the South Dakota Chorale in the world premiere recording of Marcel Tyberg’s two Masses. His work as an accompanist has taken him all over the world working regularly with choirs and orchestras in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.  Recent engagements have included performing and recording at Victoria Hall with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva, Switzerland, and with early music ensembles including Three Notch’d Road in Charlottesville, Virginia.  

 

One of the few Americans to hold the Fellowship Diploma from the Royal College of Organists (FRCO), Mr. Jacobson is in demand as conductor, organist, and adjudicator, and has led choirs on cathedral residencies in North America and England.  He has led choir tours in America and the United Kingdom, including choral residencies at Gloucester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.

 

Mr. Jacobson was previously Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia, South Carolina, and Assistant Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Washington National Cathedral where he assisted in the daily training of the choirs of Men and Boys and Men and Girls and playing the organ for numerous services including the State Funeral of President Gerald Ford.  

 

Mr. Jacobson is a 2006 graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and the Sacred Music Diploma.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree with highest distinction in Organ Performance from St. Olaf College.  His teachers and mentors have included David Higgs and William Porter at Eastman, and John Ferguson at St. Olaf.  Mr. Jacobson is a graduate of Woodberry Forest and the American Boychoir School where he was a treble chorister under James Litton.