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Pipe organ prodigy Paul Jacobs to perform at Piedmont Oct. 6 (Right) Organist Paul Jacobs is the youngest department chair ever at The Juilliard School. If Paul Jacobs played electric guitar, he would be a rock star without peer. Instead, Jacobs' instrument of choice is the pipe organ, and he is out to prove that even 1,000-year-old technology can deliver just as much power and raw emotion as an amped up Fender Stratocaster. Jacobs will perform a concert of pipe organ music at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6, at Piedmont College in the Center for Worship and Music in Demorest. Admission at the door is $10 and $5 for students and seniors. Piedmont students, faculty and staff are admitted free. Jacobs turned the organ world on its ear in 2000 when he performed a non-stop, 18-hour concert of the complete works of J.S. Bach—from memory. He has since performed similar concerts, including a tour of the U.S. performing the complete works of Olivier Messiaen in marathon, nine-hour events. While these concerts have helped Jacobs focus attention on the pipe organ, he is also regarded as one of the world's foremost performers. The Chicago Tribune called him "one of the most supremely gifted young organists of his generation," and even the staid Wall Street Journal praised his "charismatic showmanship and unflagging exuberance." "In addition to his teaching duties, Jacobs maintains one of the busiest concert careers of any organist in the world," said Dr. James Mellichamp, vice president for academic affairs at Piedmont and a professor of organ music. "He is extremely sought after and we were fortunate to be able to book his concert date two years ago. While the choice of repertoire that he performs is of the highest caliber, he is very 'down to earth' in his interaction with the audience. He is an incredible person and I am confident everyone will be awed by his performance." Jacobs began studying piano at age six and the organ at age 13. By age 15, he was appointed head organist at his hometown church in Washington, Penn. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and at Yale University, where he earned a master of music degree. At age 23, Jacobs' talent earned him a spot as one of the youngest faculty members at The Juilliard School, where he was named chairman of the organ department in 2004. He has won numerous organ prizes, including the 1998 Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition, and he is the first organist to be honored with the Harvard Musical Association's Arthur Foote Award. The Piedmont concert will feature the college's 3,675-pipe Sewell organ, and Jacobs will perform works by J.S. Bach, Maurice Durufle, John Weaver, Cesar Franck, and Max Reger. -30-
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