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The American organist, Todd Fickley began his organ studies at the Washington National Cathedral under Bruce Neswick. At the age of 23, he was made a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). He also holds the AGO Choirmaster Diploma as well as the Master of Arts degree in Organ Performance with High Distinction from the University of Wales. The topic for his Master of Arts degree was, “The Philosophy and Theology of Aesthetics in Christian Worship.” He holds both a Choirmaster Degree and the Fellowship Degree in Organ (Doctoral level) of the American Guild of Organists.
Todd Fickley has been active as a musician in Washington D.C. for many years. He is an outstanding organist, harpsichordist, and pianist, serving with many of the area’s premiere musical organizations as keyboard artist or conductor. He served as Faculty Member at Way Of Faith Christian Academy (1999-2006); Music Minister/Organist at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Annandale, Virginia (1997-2007); Assistant Director of Capitol Hill Chorale (2002-2008); Organist/Assistant Choir Director at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia (2010-2013); Organist at The Falls Church Anglican (October 2007-December 2017).
Currently, Todd Fickley is the Organist of National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. (since January 2018). He is the long-time protégé of the late Bach expert Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, having performed with the Washington Bach Consort (since 1998), and served as Assistant Music Director and Keyboard Artist (since 2013), and Acting Artistic Director (June 2016-June 2017). He has also served as served as Associate Music Director, Chorus Master and Organist at Cathedral Choral Society Inc (since 2005), , with whom he has appeared as organist or conductor in Washington National Cathedral, The White House, the Kennedy Center, and New York’s Avery Fisher Hall. He is also the Assistant Director and Keyboard Artist for The Choralis Foundation (since 2012).
Todd Fickley has given world premieres of works by Dominick Argento and Bob Chilcott, and has toured extensively internationally. A prize-winning organist and specialist in the music of J.S. Bach, he has been featured numerous times on NPR and PRI. In 2014 he launched “The Bach Project,” a cycle of concerts performing and recording all of J.S. Bach's organ works, the first time in almost a quarter of a century that such a project has been undertaken in the DC area. The recordings are being released volume by volume by MSR Classics. These have garnered significant critical acclaim: Fickley deftly captures the essential character of the contrapuntal Bach, the profound Bach, and the religious Bach…really splendid reading of these works. The first volume was praised in Fanfare Magazine as “some of the most enthralling Bach organ playing you are likely to hear anywhere by anyone.”
Equally comfortable at the podium, harpsichord, piano, and organ, his career spans over 25 years performing across the USA, Europe, and Israel. He is frequently seen in concert with a wide variety of ensembles, such as the National Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Ballet, the National Philharmonic, and the Three Notch’d Road baroque ensemble.
Todd Fickley also has served many years as a church musician in various congregations, including The Falls Church Anglican (and Episcopal) as organist and music director. He has ten years experience as a music educator, founding and directing a Royal School of Church Music program for over 100 students from 3rd grade through college age students, and coordinating performances in New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and in Carnegie Hall under the direction of Anton Armstrong, famed conductor of the St. Olaf Choir. He was reared in a pastor’s home, and embraces a vibrant and dedicated Christian faith.
Todd Fickley is frequently seen as conductor, soloist, accompanist and lecturer in the Washington DC metro area. He is an Officer in the Order of St. John and a member of the National Society of Washington Family Descendants. He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia. |
