Bryan Anderson enjoys a versatile career as a performer, church musician, teacher, and musical collaborator.  The Diapason, which named Bryan to its “20 under 30” Class of 2017, called his playing “brilliant;” Classical Voice of North Carolina described his playing as “simply first class.” Across various disciplines and specialties, Bryan’s reputation as an effective musician is well-established.

Bryan is the winner of the 2023 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition, receiving the $40,000 Pierre S. DuPont Prize (the largest cash prize of any competitive organ event) and the Philadelphia AGO Chapter Prize for the best performance of a prescribed work by Florence Price. Bryan also took the Louis Robilliard prize and a 3rd prize at the 2021 Canadian International Organ Competition, and the Firmin Swinnen Second Prize at the 2019 Longwood Gardens Organ Competition.  He has also performed at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. He appeared on the album Pipedreams Premieres, vol. 3, performing music of Henry Martin alongside Isabelle Demers, Stephen Tharp, and Ken Cowan. Bryan has completed a number of original orchestral transcriptions, including works by Duruflé, Alkan, and Debussy, and enjoys utilizing these arrangements in recitals.

Collaboration and ensemble music in all its forms is a passion for Bryan, including work as a continuo artist at the organ and harpsichord. Bryan is a regular performer with the early-music groups Harmonia Stellarum Houston and the Oklahoma Bach Choir, the concert accompanist for Houston Childrens’ Chorus, and has also appeared recently with Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Kentucky Baroque Trumpets, the viols of Les Touches, and Houston Grand Opera.

Bryan is employed as Director of Music at Saint Thomas’ Episcopal Church and School in Houston, TX, where he trains all ages of choirs from elementary ages through adults, oversees 8 sung services weekly, and organizes a concert season of outside artists and in-house ensembles. He serves as Co-Manager of the RSCM Gulf Coast choral residency program, and has also worked as the Preparatory Choir Director for the Houston Childrens’ Chorus.  He previously held positions at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston; Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England; and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Tenth Presbyterian Church, both in Philadelphia.  He also served as an assistant organist at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ.

Bryan received his Master’s Degree in organ performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in 2018, where he studied with Ken Cowan.  Bryan’s undergraduate work was completed at the Curtis Institute of Music, resulting in his Bachelor’s Degree in organ with Alan Morrison, and an Artist Diploma in harpsichord (studying with Leon Schelhase).  Previous teachers were Jeannine Morrison, in piano, and Sarah Martin, in organ.