Concert organist Lynne Davis is the featured soloist in the final program of this year's International Artists Series at historic Old West Church in the West End of Boston. Her program on Old West's celebrated C.B. Fisk Organ will include works of Nicolas de Grigny, Jan-Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Johann Sebastian Bach & Jehan Alain.
A native of Michigan, leading international concert organist Lynne Davis graduated with honors in organ performance from the University of Michigan where she studied with Robert Clark. Her studies took her to France to work with Marie-Claire Alain, Jean Langlais, Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé, and Edouard Souberbielle as well as other great European master organists. For over 60 years, Lynne Davis made France her home, marrying Chartres International Organ Competition founder, Pierre Firmin-Didot. Together they played a major role in the French organ music scene.
Ms. Davis' career was launched by taking First Prize at the prestigious St. Albans International Organ Competition in England. Since then, she has been a featured performer at two American Guild of Organist national conventions, a member of international organ competition juries, and giving concerts, masterclasses and lectures about French organ literature and its history. Her unique living and working experience in France gives her the status of world authority in all French organ repertoire. Her most recent honor is being awarded the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Republic's Ministry of Culture.
Lynne Davis has been organ professor at conservatories in Clamart and Caen, France and is now on the faculty of the Wichita State University School of Music. Professor Davis performs extensively and always to enthusiastic critical acclaim both in Europe and North America. Her recordings include discs, radio broadcasts and live performances particularly on the famed organ at Chartres Cathedral in France where her disc "Musique pour Cathédrales" won the coveted French 5 Diapasons award. Later recordings featured her performance on the world-renowned Cavaillé-Coll organ in the church of St. Etienne in Caen, Normandy, and on the Marcussen organ in Wiedemann Hall at Wichita State University.
