Herndon Spillman
Organ
Herndon
Spillman (Mattax Professor of Organ) has earned an international reputation
for his interpretations of the works of French composers and is in demand
as a recitalist both here and abroad, frequently touring in France where
he has played in the regions of Northern and Southern France, Burgundy,
and Alsace. In 1997, he completed his first successful tour of Germany,
playing seven concerts in Central Germany. He has also played recitals
in Switzerland and the Caribbean. In 1992 he was featured as a performer
at the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Atlanta,
Georgia, and in 1990, he was the only American organist asked to perform
at the French International Convention of the Fédération
Francophone des Amis de L'Orgue, which focused on the historic organs
of Alsace. Recently he was a featured recitalist for the eighth International
Organ Festival held at the monastery of Sãn Bento in Sãn
Paulo, Brazil, which highlighted North American organists.
A protégé of Maurice Duruflé, Herndon Spillman is highly regarded as interpreter of Duruflé's music. A two-year study with the composer culminated in a doctoral dissertation, The Organ Works of Maurice Duruflé, regarded as an important reference source concerning the interpretation of this repertoire. Most recently was a contributing author to the book, Maurice Duruflé, the Last Impressionist, which was published by Scarecrow press in June of 2002 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the composer's birth, January 11, 1902. In addition to his writings on Duruflé, Spillman produced the first complete recording of the composer's organ works, which was awarded the artist a Grand Prix du Disque from the French Academy or Records in 1975.
A graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, he attended Indiana University as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. There he studied with Oswald Ragatz, earning the Master and Doctor of Music degrees as well as the Performer's Certificate. As a doctoral candidate, he was affiliated with the university's renowned Black Music Center, where he assembled a collection of organ music written by African-American composers. As a resident artist at the Cité International des Arts in Paris, further study took place with Marie-Claire Alain and André Marchal, in addition to his work with Duruflé.
Herndon Spillman, Mattax Professor
School of Music
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2504
Voice: 225/578-3269
Fax: 225/578-2562.
E-mail: hspill1@lsu.edu
