JUDITH HANCOCK
Biography
Judith Hancock, Senior Lecturer in Organ and Sacred Music, was the Associate Organist of
Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York, where she assisted in training and conducting
the Saint Thomas Choir. Formerly Organist and Director of Music at Saint James‟s Church
Madison Avenue, New York, and the Church of Saint James the Less in Scarsdale, New York, she
directed the music programs in both locations, introducing many new ideas, both musical and
liturgical. She has also held positions of Organist and Choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of the
Redeemer, Cincinnati, and at churches in Bronxville, New York, and in Durham, North Carolina.
A graduate of Syracuse University, Dr. Hancock studied organ with the legendary teacher
Arthur Poister. From there she went on to Union Theological Seminary in New York City,
where she earned the Sacred Music Master‟s degree, and from which she received the Unitas
Distinguished Alumnus Award. Her organ studies in New York with Charlotte Garden and Jack
Ossewaarde. She has more recently studied with David Craighead and David Higgs at the
Eastman School of Music.
Dr. Hancock has played many recitals throughout the United States, including several
appearances at conventions of The American Guild of Organists. When the Choir of St. Thomas
Church performed at the AGO National Convention 1982, in Washington DC, and in New York
City1996, Ms. Hancock accompanied and performed solo organ works. At the Third
International Congress of Organists 1977 in Philadelphia, Dr. Hancock directed the Saint
Thomas Choir in concert, performing as organ soloist as well. At the Fourth International
Congress 1987, in Cambridge, England, she played solo organ works during the Choir‟s
performance at King‟s College Chapel. She also performed at King's Lynn and the Aldeburgh
Festivals 1987, at Saint John‟s College, Cambridge, Westminster Abbey 1987 and 2009, and at
Judith Hancock
Press Book, page 2
Saint Paul's Cathedral, 2003. Dr. Hancock has appeared with the Saint Thomas Choir on
subsequent concert tours of Italy and Austria, performing at the Cathedrals of Venice, Trieste,
Vienna, Salzburg, and Copenhagen. She performed on tour in Japan in 1988.
Dr. Hancock established an on-going series of solo organ recitals at St. Thomas Church,
performing organ works of various composers. Recent series have included music for trumpet
and organ, music for viola and organ, music for cello and organ, “Two Organists at One
Keyboard” (performed with Gerre Hancock), “The Great German Tradition,” emphasizing works
of Bach, Mendelssohn, Hindemith and Reger, and “The Great French Tradition" featuring works
of Tournemire, Vierne and Duruflé and Dupré. She has performed the works of Bach in
retrospective, as well as the Antiphons of Dupré, Opus 59 of Reger, Sunday Music by Petr Eben,
and the Duruflé transcriptions of improvisations by Tournemire.
Ms. Hancock performed concerted works of Brixi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Rheinberger,
Piston, and Poulenc with orchestra. She has recorded on discs produced at Decca/Argo, and
Koch International, Priory Records and Gothic Records.
In 2004, Judith Hancock was awarded the degree of Doctor of Sacred Music by St.
Dunstan‟s College of Sacred Music, Providence, Rhode Island. Also in 2004, the Doctors
Hancock were appointed to the faculty of The Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music of The
University of Texas at Austin, where they are building a program of studies in and the practice of
sacred music. Here Dr. Judith Hancock has performed two Faculty Recitals on the Bates Recital
Hall organ, as well as annual Holiday concerts in collaboration with other faculty. She frequently
accompanies the Choral Arts Society and instrumental ensembles connected with the University.
Current as of September 2010
Judith Hancock
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JUDITH HANCOCK
Press Notices
RECITAL REVIEWS
NEW YORK CITY “In Liszt‟s Ad nos, ad salutarem undam and the Te Deum Paraphrase by
Dupré, Mrs. Hancock exploited … both the grandeur and grandiosity of the St. Thomas‟s organ
and its giant space. Indeed, she played these pieces with unusual virtuosity and forcefulness.”
The New York Times
LOS ANGELES (National Convention of the American Guild of Organists – 2004)
“In Ms. Hancock‟s hands the whole work (Petr Eben‟s Sunday Music) is a sparkling jewel.”
The American Organist
WASHINGTON DC “Brilliant technique, skillful registration.”
The American Organist
KANSAS CITY “Judith Hancock closed the evening with Reubke. Forceful in every way, at
once moving, dispelling, subtle ...”
The Kansas City Times
CLEVELAND “... virtuoso performer ...”
The Cleveland Press
CINCINNATI “Two Mozart Sonatas for organ and strings again reminded us very forcibly
that Judy Hancock is probably Gerre Hancock‟s most „dangerous‟ rival … whirlwind digital and
pedal skills ...”
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHARLESTON WV “The Duruflé was brilliantly performed from first to last – ranging from a
just-right unfolding of the mysterious, quiet opening of the prelude to a staggering display of
virtuosity in the fugue.”
Charleston Gazette
PALO ALTO “... how elegantly Mrs. Hancock played ...”
Palo Alto Times
BRIDGEPORT “Mrs. Hancock made the finale as stirring as the actual experience of a
Bastille Day parade in Paris – fireworks, cannons, marching troops, cheering crowds.”
Bridgeport Post
“Judith Hancock‟s performances are thrilling …”
Church Music Quarterly
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RECORDING REVIEWS
Poulenc Organ Concerto (KOCH KIC CD 7558)
“Judith Hancock‟s fleetly, incisive, spellbinding, hair-raising performance, fraught with
unaccustomed eeriness and rife with sinister grandeur, overtops in spades the likes of
Anthony Newman, Simon Preston, Philippe Lefebvre, Gillian Weir, Michael Murray, or
even Maurice Duruflé and Marie-Claire Alain … an enthusiastic recommendation.”
Fanfare
Dupré, 15 Pieces Founded on Antiphons; Eben Sunday Music
“Technically she is superb; the challenges posed by both works are handled with complete
brio. Further, the clarity of her playing … is in the highest possible league of achievement.”
Fanfare
“Hancock has a feel for these pieces that comes through. Her playing is clean and
accurate, and she captures the drama and excitement well.”
American Record Guide
“Ms. Hancock plays with deep love and capable conviction. It‟s a superb demonstration
of a player and instrument.” The American Organist
“…Ms. Hancock performs the subdued pieces of this set with classic elegance, discreet
shaping of the line and controlled but fluid rhythmic flow.”
The Living Church
“Ms. Hancock tackles these short pieces with flair, imagination and assuredness.”
Organists’ Review
Great Cathedral Anthems XI (Priory PRCD 629)
“Mrs. Hancock‟s brilliant accompaniments ensure that magnificent organ is heard to
maximum effect.” The Organ Magazine
Christ the Fair Glory (Koch International)
“… Judith Hancock‟s literally earth-shaking renderings of Tournemire‟s magical,
mischievous improvisations on Victimae Paschali and Peter Planyavsky‟s delightfully
demented, scurrying Toccata-Rumba are more than worth a few visits … virtuoso playing.”
Classics Today
Popular Organ Music 5 (Priory)
“… she is a formidable recitalist. Her playing is fluent and coherent …”
American Record Guide
“Judy is, as always, in superb form both in solid technique and in stylistic interpretation.”
The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
The St. Thomas Tradition (Priory)
“Judith Hancock‟s performances are thrilling …” Church Music Quarterly
Judith Hancock
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JUDITH HANCOCK
Discography
SUNDAY MUSIC
Organ works of Peter Eben and Marcel Dupré.
Recorded at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York
A Gothic Digital Recording (G-49110)
POPULAR ORGAN MUSIC
Works of J.S. Bach, Karg-Elert, Mozart, Sowerby and Ginastera.
Recorded at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York
A Priory Records Digital Recording (PRCD 599)
THE SAINT THOMAS TRADITION
Solo organ works by Marcel Dupré: Prelude and Fugue in G minor, Op. 7, no. 3 and
Prelude and Fugue in B major, Op. 7, no. 1.
Recorded at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York
A Priory Records Digital Recording
A CAPPELLA II FROM SAINT THOMAS CHURCH
The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Judith Hancock, organist. Works of Sowerby,
Noble, Ossewaarde, Parker, Wood, Gray, Stanford, Guilmant, and others. (2001)
Koch International Digital Recording (3-7351-2H1)
AMERICAN MUSIC FROM SAINT THOMAS CHURCH
The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys and The Orchestra of Saint Luke‟s,
Judith Hancock, Organist. Works of Locklair, Piston and Thompson. (2002).
Koch International Classics Digital CD
GABRIEL FAURE, REQUIEM, Francis Poulenc, Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Orchestra and
Tympani
The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys with The Orchestra of Saint Luke‟s,
Judith Hancock, Organist. (2003).
Koch International Digital Recording
Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.
33563 Seneca Drive • Cleveland, OH 44139
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