BENJAMIN A KOLODZIEJ, Organist 

Benjamin Kolodziej serves as Chapel Organist at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, where he has been an adjunct lecturer in sacred music at Perkins School of Theology and where he plays organ for 150 weddings, memorials, and civic events a year at historic Perkins Chapel.  Since 1999 he has also been Organist and Director of Worship at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX, where he oversees an active music ministry including several choirs and two concert series.

Graduating with an undergraduate degree in organ performance in 1998, Mr Kolodziej holds Master of Sacred Music and Master of Theological Studies degrees from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, where he studied organ with Robert Anderson, George Baker, and Larry Palmer.  He won first place in the Dallas AGO Young Organist Competition and was awarded the hymn playing prize at the William B Hall Organ Competition.  He is a frequent organist for hymn festivals and organ concerts, having performed many times in the UK as well as in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In addition to many performances throughout Texas, he has also performed at historic Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, VA, Washington National Cathedral, and St Thomas Church in New York City.  In addition to serious organ performance, he enjoys performing for shows and accompanying plays on the Wurlitzer theatre organ recently installed at the McKinney Performing Arts Center in McKinney, TX.   

Mr Kolodziej has published articles in The Chorister, Concordia Theological Quarterly, The Hymn, Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, The American Organist, Theatre Organ and Methodist History, maintaining a scholarly interest in liturgical, hymnological, and theological history and practices.  He is presently writing for the new Lutheran Service Book Hymnal Companion to be published in 2011 by Concordia Publishing House.

 

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CONCERT AUDIO SAMPLES:

(All recorded live in concert.)