Presented by: Dr. Linda Patterson
Location: Hyatt Regency – Hanover F
Flor Peeters was a distinguished composer, teacher, cathedral musician, concert organist, and musicologist whose students included Paul Manz, Kathleen Thomerson, and Charles Callahan. Composer of the largest published collection of American organ chorales, Peeters’ works include Gregorian Chant accompaniment, a collection of early music of the Flemish masters, and Ars Organi, a comprehensive approach to organ study. Peeters traced his musical lineage to J.S. Bach, sharing Flemish heritage with Franck, and had a 63-year tenure as organist of St. Rombouts Cathedral, Mechelen, Belgium.
As professor at the Royal Flemish Conservatory and the Lemmens Institute in Belgium, Peeters risked his life to teach at the Tilburg Conservatory during the Nazi occupation. Peeters’ international Masterclasses provided study of Bach, Franck, and Peeters, while developing international friendships. His church, concert, ensemble, and symphonic compositions include an enormous variety of music, useable for every organist.