A native of Toronto, Canada, Kola Owolabi holds degrees from McGill University and Yale University in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting. In 2007, he was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. His former teachers have included Bruce Wheatcroft, John Grew, Martin Jean, Thomas Murray, Hans Davidsson and William Porter.

Dr. Owolabi has held positions as Assistant Organist at St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, and at the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul in Montreal. While studying at Yale, he was organist at the University Chapel and directed the chapel choir at the Yale Divinity School. He is a published composer and has received commissions from the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto.

In 2002, Dr. Owolabi was awarded second prize and audience prize at the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance. As a recitalist, he has performed across Canada and the United States, appearing most recently at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York and Methuen Memorial Music Hall, in Massachusetts. He is assistant professor of organ theory and serves as SU's university organist.

Click here for more information on the historic 1950 Walter Holtkamp organ in Setnor Auditorium.

Contact
Telephone: 315-443-5043
Email: opowolab@syr.edu