25th International Festival “The Days of Organ – Dies organorum”: STEFAN DONNER

Stefan Donner is an Austrian concert organist who is performing extensively in Europe, Turkey, Israel, the USA and Australia. His first concert in Belgrade is supported by Austrian Cultural Forum in Belgrade.

Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Toccata and Fugue in F Major, BWV 540

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Allegretto from Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
(transcribed for Organ by Angelo Maria Trovato)

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Lebhaft from Sketches for pedal piano, Op. 58

Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
Préludes and Fugues for organ, Op. 7
Prélude et Fugue in B major (a la memoire de Rene Vierne)
Prélude et Fugue in F minor (a la memoire d’Augustin Barie)
Prélude et Fugue in G minor (a la memoire de Joseph Boulnois)

Biography:
Stefan Donner earned degrees from the University of Music Vienna (with highest honors) where he studied organ, piano, and conducting. He received his Master’s degree in organ performance from the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Additionally, Stefan has participated in master classes with Olivier Latry, Joris Verdin, and Edoardo Bellotti. He notably received a 2014-15 Fulbright Scholarship to study organ and harpsichord at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Stefan is the recipient of various awards, including First Prize in the 2010 Franz-Schmidt-Organ Competition (Austria) and Third Prize in the 2011 Dublin International Organ Competition. Besides various radio and television recordings, Stefan has recorded CDs on the 1741 Dacci organ of St. Salvator in Vienna and on the 1862 Buckow organ in the musical instruments collection of the Vienna Museum of Technology. These albums notably document his artistic proficiency as a concert organist. Stefan has performed extensively in Europe, Turkey, Israel, the USA and Australia. In 2017 he was invited to lecture on J. S. Bach’s organ Trio Sonatas at the Władysław Żeleński Secondary School of Music in Krakow, Poland.

Donner’s previously held positions include Interim Director of Music and Organist at Klosterneuburg Abbey (near Vienna) from 2020 to 2021. Beside his busy concert schedule, Mr. Donner currently teaches piano and music theory at two schools and works as an accompanist.