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The American choral conductor and organist, Christopher Jacobson, is a graduate of Woodberry Forest (Class of 1999) and the American Boychoir School (Class of 1995) where he was a treble chorister under James Litton. He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree with highest distinction in Organ Performance from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, studying with John Ferguson; and his Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and the Sacred Music Diploma from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York (2006), studying with David Higgs and William Porter.
Recognized as a leading organist and choral director, Christopher Jacobson, is active as a versatile concert organist, conductor, accompanist, guest clinician, and teacher.
As a soloist, Christopher 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. He maintains an active recital schedule. In addition to performances of the organ works of César Franck and Maurice Duruflé, he has presented recitals of the complete organ works of J.S. Bach on several occasions across the USA to critical acclaim.
An active ensemble performer Christopher 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 USA, UK, France, and Germany. As an accompanist he has accompanied choirs on tours to Saint Thomas Church in New York City, Canterbury and Durham Cathedrals in England, the American Cathedral in Paris, and the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy. An active continuo artist, he appears regularly with the early music ensemble Three Notch’d Road in Charlottesville, Virginia, and with the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra. Recent engagements have included performing and recording at Victoria Hall with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva, Switzerland.
One of the few Americans to hold the Fellowship Diploma from the Royal College of Organists (FRCO), Christopher 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 UK, including choral residencies at Gloucester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
As Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Columbia, South Carolina, Christopher Jacobson helped build a children’s chorister program and led the cathedral choirs. As Assistant Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., he assisted in training and accompanying the choirs of Men and Boys and Men and Girls, directed services for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (over 200 choral services annually), and was one of the organists for the state funeral of President Gerald Ford.
Christopher Jacobson served as chapel organist for Duke Chapel, Duke University Durham, North Carolina, from 2014 to 2023. There he founded the Duke Evensong Singers and the Duke Chapel Organ Scholar program and served as principal organist for chapel services (over 150 services each year) and concerts. In March 2023, he was appointed director of music and organist for the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Dallas, Texas.
Christopher Jacobson has led national and international choir tours, and he is an experienced teacher at the collegiate level. He currently lives in Dallas, Texas. |
