"A very great artist in every way"
- Jean Langlais
JAN OVERDUIN has distinguished himself as a performer with a combination of technical virtuosity and musical sensitivity.
"Overduin's impeccable technique and imaginative improvisation provided a scintillating afternoon of music" - Dürichen, K-W Record
"Playing of the highest standard" - Siskind, The Citizen (Ottawa)
"Brilliantly virtuosic ... This recital (London, Festival Hall) was one of the highlights of the season" - Musical Opinion
Beginning musical studies in his native Holland, JAN OVERDUIN debuted at the age of fourteen in St. Thomas, Ontario. He earned the Master of Music degree (with honours) in organ performance at the University of Western Ontario, while studying with Peter Hurford. He was the first Canadian to successfully pass both Associateship and Fellowship examinations of the Royal Canadian College of Organists at one sitting (1963). A multi-award winner, JAN OVERDUIN won the Healey Willan Prize in 1963; the International Organ Competition in London, Ontario (1967), second prize and finals in improvisation; the Festival of Flanders International Organ Competition in Bruges, Belgium (1970), finals; and the St. Alban's International Or gan Competition (1973), shared main prize, finals in improvisation, and the audience prize. He has been the recipient of several Canada Council awards for studies abroad during the 1960's, allowing him to study with, among others, Marie-Claire Alain, Jean Langlais and Peter Hurford.
Several composers have dedicated works to JAN OVERDUIN, among them Jean Langlais (France), Alice Parker (U.S.A.), Barrie Cabena (Canada) and Graham George (Canada), and he has given premieres of major organ works by all of these and other composers.
JAN OVERDUIN has appeared in recital on the BBC, the Belgian Radio Network, CBC (Talent Festival, Organists in Recital, Radio Free Berlin, and Arts National), as well as on Canadian TV. He has been featured at several RCCO Conventions. In April, 1984, he was invited to present the Tenth Anniversary Concert for the Flentrop Organ at the National Arts Center in Ottawa. Other venues have included Roy Thompson Hall (Toronto), Jack Singer Concert Hall (Calgary), University of Western Ontario, McGill University. Annually since 1983 he has toured Europe, with highly acclaimed concerts in Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland and Portugal. In the U.S.A. he has given recitals at the University of Buffalo, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Muehlenberg College, Bethel College, the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Penn State University, University of Alaska, Calvin College, Valparaiso University, Elkhart MBC, and at several venues in New York City (St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, St. Peter's) and Brooklyn. In collaboration with Erik Schultz he has toured Taiwan, and recorded eight albums of music for trumpet and organ. With Barrie Cabena he has given numerous organ duet recitals in Germany and Canada, and recorded an album of Cabena's organ works. In 1988 he recorded a CD on the historic Riepp organ in Ottobeuren, Germany, featuring the music of Balbastre, Vivaldi, Leyding and others.
JAN OVERDUIN has been active as a choral conductor. He founded the Niagara Chamber Choir, and conducted the Menno Singers (fifty select voices) for eight years, and the Mennonite Mass Choir (400+ voices) for five years.
JAN OVERDUIN was University Organist and Professor of Organ and Church Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, and conducted the WLU Chapel Choir until his retirement in 2003. He served as Director of Music at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Kitchener for over 12 years. Since 2001 he Director of Music at First United Church in Waterloo, a position he held there also from 1967 to 1973. During his recent tenure at First United, he oversaw the purchase and installation of a mechanical-action pipe organ and organized a regular concert series.
JAN OVERDUIN improvises accompaniments to silent movies, and is accompanist for a number of choral CDs.
JAN OVERDUIN is available for recitals (solo and orchestral) and masterclasses focusing on improvisation and church service playing, as well as conducting and choral technique.

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Jan Overduin