Kevin Komisaruk

Biography

“The playing is remarkable…you can hear the organ breathing, even weeping, as if it were almost human.” – Radio Canada

Kevin Komisaruk is an organist and harpsichordist based at the University of Toronto since 2003, where he is currently Professor of Performance, Teaching Stream, at the Faculty of Music. His research explores intersections between performance practice, rhetoric, flow theory, kinaesthetic learning, creative identity and improvisation, and how these are implicated in the spiritual, emotional, and physical health of artists. He has performed throughout North America and Europe, and produced two solo discs on the ATMA label which received several international citations. In addition to studio instruction and doctoral supervision he provides leadership for the Comprehensive Studies programme at the Faculty of Music, as well as developing and teaching courses in creative identity, improvisation, pedagogy, and keyboard theory.

As a concert soloist Komisaruk has performed throughout Europe and North America, at venues including the Abbatiale Sainte-Croix and Basilique St-Seurin (Bordeaux, France), Église-Musée des Augustins, St-Pierre-des-Chartreux, Couvent des Jacobins (Toulouse, France), Cathédrale Sainte-Marie (Auch, France), Sanktmarienkirche (Stralsund, Germany), Jacobikirche (Gingst, Germany), University of Aberdeen (Scotland), St Paul’s Cathedral (London, UK), Santa Rosa (Querétaro, Mexico), Zocalo Cathedral (Puebla, Mexico), King’s Chapel (Boston), the Episcopal Cathedrals of Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit, Atlanta, and Washington D.C., and the Princeton Early Keyboard Centre. His Canadian performance venues include Christ Church Cathedral (Victoria), St Patrick’s Basilica (Ottawa), Rozsa Centre (Calgary), St Joseph’s Oratory (Montreal) and Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto). He has broadcast with CBC/SRC (Canada), NPR (USA), and Radio France, and his two albums on the ATMA label received several international citations.

As a liturgical musician and choral director Kevin Komisaruk has served as Director of Music for The Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), Church of St. John the Evangelist (Montreal), St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Montreal), Principal Organist for St Basil’s Collegiate Church (Toronto), and founding director of Studio Sixteen Ensemble (Toronto). Prior to moving to Toronto he served as choral curriculum director for the English acting programme of the National Theatre School of Canada.

Photo credit: Trish Lindstrom