Kola Owolabi

Kola Owolabi is an associate professor of music and university organist at the Syracuse University Setnor School of Music. He teaches courses in organ, improvisation, continuo playing and baroque chamber music, plays for weekly chapel services and special events, and coordinates the Malmgren Concert Series at Hendricks Chapel.  He is currently the Dean of the Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He holds degrees from McGill University, Montreal, (B.Mus, organ performance), Yale University (M.M. organ performance and choral conducting) and Eastman School of Music (D.M.A., organ performance).  His former teachers have included Bruce Wheatcroft, John Grew, Martin Jean, Thomas Murray, Hans Davidsson and William Porter.  In 2002, Dr. Owolabi was awarded second prize and audience prize at the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance.  Dr. Owolabi is a published composer and has received commissions from the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto.  His solo organ composition Dance has been selected for the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Competition in August 2013, where all of the finalists will perform this composition.  As a solo recitalist, he has performed across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Jamaica, including venues such as St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, in Massachusetts, Cornell University, and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.  He also performs regularly as organist and harpsichordist with the Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire and Firebird Chamber Orchestra, based in Miami, FL.