In 24 days
ORGAN CONCERT with works by Buxtehude, Bach, Handel, and others.
AN AUSTRALIAN IN NASSAU - in memory of Rowan West (1953-2023)
The renowned organist Christian von Blohn, who impressed at the last festival with Trio Rosso dedicates his solo concert to the organ builder Rowan West, who learned to play the organ at the cathedral organ in Sydney. After graduating from high school and an apprenticeship as an organ builder in Australia, he received a Churchill Scholarship and moved to Central Europe in 1975. Here, he furthered his studies at Orgelbau Klais in Bonn, where he worked as a voicer. In 1976/1977 he attended the North German Organ Academy in Bunde and first delved into baroque organs. He completed his master school in Ludwigsburg in 1986. In 1987, following his master examination, West became self-employed.
Christian von Blohn completed his music studies at the State University of Music Saarbrücken with an A-examination in church music (choir and orchestral conducting with Volker Hempfling and Dieter Loskant) and a diploma in music education, majoring in organ. In addition, he studied piano with Kurt Schmitt and piano chamber music with Walter Blankenheim and Jean Micault, as well as harpsichord with Martin Galling. He then continued his artistic training in Switzerland at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in the master class of André Luy, where he was awarded the Premier Prix de Virtuosité in 1991. This was followed by further studies with Daniel Chorzempa at the Music Academy in Basel and the Mozarteum Salzburg, as well as with Peter Hurford and Julian Smith at the "Royal School of Church Music" in the UK.
Since 1993, Christian von Blohn has been working as a deanery cantor for the Diocese of Speyer and today musically supervises the two St. Ingbert parishes of St. Hildegard and St. Josef. He is also responsible for leading the local department of the Bishop's Church Music Institute.
With the Collegium Vocale Blieskastel, which he founded, he has been performing sacred music of various styles for 25 years.
After teaching at the universities of Karlsruhe, Trossingen, and Mannheim, he has been teaching at the Saar University of Music for several years. An active concert schedule takes him throughout Europe, along with numerous CD, radio, and television recordings.
Free admission. Donations welcome.