Jonas Nordwall


A native of Portland, Oregon, Jonas Nordwall received his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1970 from the University of Portland, studying with Arthur Hitchcock. Additional study was done with Fredrick Geoglegan, the noted English/Canadian organist. As a teenager, Jonas had the priviledge to study with Richard Ellssaser, one of the greatest virtuoso orgnists of this century. At the age of 15, Jonas had the distinction to play for Sweeden’s King Gustav Adolph, performing on the accordion, which was the first instrumenht he learned to play.

Jonas Nordwall possesses unique talents as a concert organist. His abilities to perform music of both classical and popular schools with equal virtuosity are rare. He annually tours the North American continent presenting recitals and workshops and maintains an active recording schedule. He serves as director of Music of the First United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon, where he has been the organist since 1971. Mr. Nordwall is also the organist for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has made solo appearances and participated in a recording of a compact disc with the orchestra on the Delos label. Additional orchestral appearances are with the Vancouver B.C Symphony Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Columbia Symphony Orchestra and the Peter Britt Festival Orchestra. His international concert appearances have included Australia and China.

Jonas is a major contributor to the Renaissance popularity of the theater organ as a recital instrument. He has recorded some fifteen albums in addition to his concert schedules at major performing arts auditoriums. He has been a featured recitalist for national conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and was Oganist of the Year for 1987.

The design and manufacturing of both pipe and electronic organs have been a passion for Jonas. Since 1966 he has been affiliated with the Rodgers Instrument Corporation in many capacities. He is a frequent recitalist and clinician; a design, manufacturing and marketing consultant; and instrumental in the development of the control concepts for the classical organ world to enter the Twenty-first Century via the use of MIDI. He has consulted on many organs by various builders and was selected to supervise the installation of the former Carnegie Hall custom 5-manual Rodgers organ into it’s new home in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon. Jonas was the artist for both the solo and orchestral inagural concerts of this famous organ.

Last Update: December 29, 1998

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