Jens Korndörfer

Jens Korndörfer
Jens Korndörfer
Background information
Born	1978 (age 45–46); Zwiesel, Germany
Occupation(s)	Organist
Website	www.jenskorndoerfer.com
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Nationality	German
Citizenship	Germany
Alma mater	McGill University

Jens Korndörfer (born 1978) is a German organist based in the United States. He is Director of Worship and the Arts and Organist at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and teaches organ at Georgia State University.^[1]

Education

Born in Zwiesel, Korndörfer studied organ at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Paris (class of Michel Bouvard and Olivier Latry, Premier Prix in 2007), the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (James-David Christie, Artist Diploma in 2009), and McGill University (John Grew, Doctor of Music in 2012), and church music at the Hochschule für evangelische Kirchenmusik Bayreuth (B Diplom in 2004, Hartmut Leuschner-Rostoski and Michael Wessel).^[2]

Prizes

In 2008, Korndörfer won Third Prize at the first edition of the Canadian International Organ Competition.^[3] In 2011, he won Second Prize and Liszt Prize at the same competition.^[4]

Positions

In the 2005/06 season, Korndörfer served as Organist in Residence at the Concert Hall Kitara in Sapporo, Japan.^[5]

In 2012, he was appointed Organist and - in 2015 - Director of Worship and the Arts and Organist at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, where he directed the renovation of the Sanctuary organ by organ builders Klais and Schlueter.^[6]

From 2014 to 2019, Korndörfer taught organ at Agnes Scott College. Since 2017, he teaches at Georgia State University.^[7]

Performances

Korndörfer has performed extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia and East Asia. He has appeared as a featured artist in numerous international music festivals and organ series in cities such as Berlin, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Kyoto, Montreal,^[8] Moscow, New York, Oslo, and Salzburg. His performances have also included notable venues such as Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the National Cathedral in Washington DC, Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Duke University Chapel,^[9] the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Yekaterinburg Philharmonic Hall.

Korndörfer has also performed with orchestras and musical ensembles. He has given master classes and lectures for the American Guild of Organists and at institutions such as the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong and Baylor University.

Korndörfer is represented by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.

Discography

Windows of the Spirit on the Klais/Schlueter Organ at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Organum Classics, 2019^[10]
Variations on America on the Casavant Organs in Saints-Anges-Gardiens, Lachine, and St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montréal, IfoClassics, 2010^[11]
Trumpet Ave Maria together with Kazuhiro Maekawa (Trumpet), on the Schuke Organ in the Harmony Hall, Fukui, Japan, Jasrac, 2008
Great Moments in German Music on the Kern Organ in the Concert Hall Kitara in Sapporo, Japan, SCH-008, 2006