International Year of the Organ

2008-2009 has been designated as the International Year of the Organ by the American Guild of Organists (AGO). In celebration, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament has invited two internationally-renowned organists to play concerts in October.

On Saturday, October 11 at 7 p.m., Ralph Junghöfer of Dortmund, Germany will play a concert of Romantic and Modern German and French music.

Mr. Junghöfer pursued both organ and conducting studies in institutions around Europe. He achieved his Masters in Organ with study under Ewald Kooiman in Amsterdam and the illustrious Daniel Roth, titulare organist of Saint Sulpice in Paris. He received his Masters in Conducting under David M. Epstein of Boston and Karl Österreicher in Vienna, who was a student of Claudio Abbado.

As a concert organist, Mr. Junghöfer has performed in major churches and concert halls throughout Europe, including the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, St. Jacob's Cathedral in Innsbruck, La Madelein and Notre Dame in Paris, and the Megaron in Athens.

This concert is free and open to the public.