Jon Gillock

Press and public alike acclaim American organist Jon Gillock for his sensitive and moving performances. He is especially fond of performing the "French spiritual repertoire". This includes the music of such composers as François Couperin, Maurice Duruflé, Nicolas de Grigny, César Franck, Charles Tournemire, Louis Vierne, and, of course, Olivier Messiaen and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Jon Gillock earned degrees at the University of Arkansas and The Juilliard School in New York City. He also studied with Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatory.

A friend of Messiaen and one of his preferred interpreters, Gillock has given premieres of several of Messiaen's works for organ in New York City, across the United States, and in Japan. He is known internationally as an authority on this repertoire.

Jon Gillock has established an international career not only as a performer but also as a master teacher. Now a resident of Paris, he has been a member of the organ faculties of both The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He regularly participates as Artist Faculty with Yuko Hayashi in the Boston Organ Academy sponsored by the Old West Organ Society.

Jon Gillock was named INTERNATIONAL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR, 1999-2000, by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This prestigious honor was awarded to him "in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to organ performance". Among the awards he has received for his recordings are the "Diapason d'Or" and the "10 de Répertoire" in France and the "Deutsche Schallplatten Preis" in Germany.

"Again I remember with emotion your marvelous performance of my 'Méditations sur le Mystère de la Sainte Trinité' in New York...I was infinitely touched by your wonderful interpretation: registration, touch, understanding -- all were ideally beautiful. You will never know how much I admired your playing. Again thank you and bravo!!!"

- Olivier Messiaen

"It was as if he were practicing a religious service. He was totally absorbed in his performance [Messiaen's Complete Organ Works in Tokyo]. The music was filled with his passionate devotion. He was calm and graceful for the entire concert. His notes were smooth. Rhythm and phrasing were natural. This concert showed me a miracle. A miracle that only Dr. Gillock could materialize through his earnest efforts."

- Toshihide Katayama, Music Critic, The Asahi Shimbun