Gary Verkade

Gary Verkade

Gary Verkade (organ) was born in Chicago and studied music, including organ performance, composition, form and analysis, counterpoint and musicology, at Calvin College (BA) and the University of Iowa (MFA, DMA) in the U.S. and from the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen, Germany the Künstlerische Reifeprüfung and Konzertexamen. He has been a guest professor/lecturer/performer at universities in Europe and the United States. Verkade has performed throughout Europe and the United States, including many premiers of New Music. He composes music for organ, electronics, chamber and improvisation ensembles; and is co-founder of the Essen, Germany-based improvisation ensemble SYNTHESE, in which he performs on synthesizers and computer. He has published essays and articles on subjects relating to organ playing, performance practice of old music, and composition. Dr. Verkade is presently Professor of Organ at Musikhögskolan i Piteå, Sweden where he continues to teach, perform, compose, record, improvise, and write about music.