Katherine Handford

Kathrine Handford is University Organist and Artist-in-Residence at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, a position she has held since 2004. She holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature and the highly coveted Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. A musician of wide-ranging interests and accomplishments, Handford has appeared in recital in the United States, Canada, England, Italy and Scandinavia where she has been a featured artist at numerous festivals. Handford was the winner of the 35th International J.S. Bach Competition held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In the same year, she received first prize in the John R. Rodland Scholarship Competition in New Jersey. She has received many grants and awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Handford has appeared as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra in Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C minor and with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, performing Poulenc’s Concerto in G minor at the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians National Convention held at The Temple of the Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri. As a specialist in 17th century music, she has performed numerous recitals with the Swedish natural trumpet virtuoso Niklas Eklund and the Australian Baroque Brass. Her interest in new music has led to premieres of several new works for organ, including Stephen Paulus’ Toccata for Organ, Ketil Hvoslef’s Toccata for Organ, Robert Starer’s Angel Voices, and David Liptak’s Sonata for Violin and Organ, which was commissioned by Benedictinus 2000 and premiered in Rome. Her students at Lawrence have received top awards and honors in regional and national organ playing competitions and have gone on to study at major graduate schools in organ performance. She is a member of the program committee for the Twin Cities Chapter American Guild of Organists as well as a member of the National Young Organists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP) committee, the premier performance competition of the American Guild of Organists. She serves on the education committee and board of the American Composers Forum. She is represented by Penny Lorenz Artist Management.