Dr. David von Behren is the Assistant University Organist and Choirmaster of the Memorial Church at Harvard University. He recently graduated with his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Boston University College of Fine Arts where he studied with Peter Sykes. He earned his Master of Music degree at Yale University’s School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music, studying organ with Martin Jean and improvisation with Jeffrey Brillhart. He is also a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and music theory (double degree), pursuing organ studies with Todd Wilson. His recent album, French Flourishes from First Plymouth (2021), has been featured on American Public Media’s “Pipedreams.” In the last year, he has released two albums, American Adventures: An Organ Album (2022) and Merry Melodies for Advent and Christmas (2022).
Dr. von Behren is the first organist to receive the Cleveland Institute of Music’s prestigious Darius Milhaud Award, given each year to a student “who displays qualities of unusual talent and creativity, sensitivity, expressiveness, strong love for and dedication to the musical arts, outstanding musical accomplishment, and evidence of academic excellence.” He also was named one of The Diapason’s “20 Under 30” Class of 2016. The winner of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award on National Public Radio’s (NPR) From the Top, David’s live radio performance has reached over half a million listeners. David continues to concertize extensively throughout the United States and Europe.