Cameron Carpenter
[1] [2] (b. 1981) is an American organist known for his showmanship, technique and orchestral arrangements for the organ. [3] [4]
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CAMERON CARPENTER TICKETS
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Biography
Carpenter has bachelor's and master's degrees from The
Juilliard School in New York, having studied with
Gerre Hancock, John Weaver, and
Paul Jacobs. Though he is not religious,
Carpenter was from 2008 to 2009 the artist-in-residence at Middle Collegiate Church
[5] in New York's
East Village, where he played a four-manual virtual pipe organ that he designed for the broad ranging music of that church. Carpenter ended his residency in July, 2009.
A champion of virtual pipe organs, Carpenter has been referred to as "the most controversial organist in the world"
[6] and "extraordinary"
[7] while also attracting criticism.
Recordings
Early in 2008, Telarc signed Carpenter to an exclusive 6-album recording contract. His Telarc debut album,
Revolutionary
, was recorded as a CD and DVD at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City, and released September 23, 2008. The title comes from Carpenter's transcription of
Chopin's
Revolutionary Etude. The album has earned Carpenter a Grammy nomination in the category Best Solo Instrumental Performance (without orchestra). His first commercial album was a 2006 CD/DVD,
Pictures at an Exhibition
, on SeeMusicDVD. It includes his arrangement of the programmatic piano work by
Modest Mussorgsky, and his own improvisatory "New York City Sessions." Visuals for the Moussorgsky were created by Marshall Yaeger and his
Kaleidoplex. The recording was made at
Trinity Church, New York.
An "early" recording, made in 2005 and financed by the Allen Organ Company, was titled
notes from the underground
. This recording was a highly unusual project for Allen, as Carpenter was given near-complete artistic control of the album, selection of the program and even oversight of graphic design (featuring location shots of Carpenter at famous New York City graffiti sites). This album was not reissued by Allen and is now a rarity.
Personal life
In an interview with
The Advocate
, Carpenter was identified as "
queer" — a term often used to encompass one or more non-
heterosexual orientations. “While my first love was a boy and I’ve had numerous male lovers, I also love women,” Carpenter said.
[8]