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 a Master’s degree in organ performance from the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Additionally, Stefan has participated in master classes with Olivier Latry and Joris Verdin amongst others. 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 – most recently Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the J. D. Dulcken Harpsichord at the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments Vienna.

Stefan has performed extensively in Europe, Turkey, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, Canada, the USA and Australia. In 2019 he gave his debut at Musikverein Vienna, where he performed Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony with the RSO Vienna.

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. In August 2024 he also taught organ at the Conservatory of Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Donner’s previously held positions include Interim Director of Music and Organist at Klosterneuburg Abbey. Beside his busy concert schedule, Mr. Donner currently teaches piano and music theory and works as an accompanist. During the past semester he has been teaching piano at Fritz Kreisler Institut of the University of Music Vienna.

More info at the Donner’s web page

photo: Reinhard Steiner