Education

John Karl Hirten earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance under Paul-Martin Maki, Eugenia Earle and Frederick Swann at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Classical Languages at Fordham University in New York.

Professional Service

Hirten has served as Apprentice in Church Music at Trinity Church on Wall Street under Larry King. He also served as Director of Music for the Fordham University Chapel and as Organist for St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn. After moving to the Bay Area in 1989, he served as Director of Music at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, as well as Congregation Beth Israel Judea. He has also served as Adjunct Professor of Organ at the Dixon School of Church Music, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in Mill Valley, CA. He is currently the Director of Parish Music at St. Stephen's Church in Belvedere.

Notable Local Performances

Noontime Concerts, Music at St. Mary's Cathedral,
First Saturdays at St. John the Evangelist,
Second Sundays at St. Mark's Episcopal in Berkeley,
Special concerts at First Presbyterian Church in Oakland.
Oakland Ballet
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
American Bach Soloists, San Francisco, CA
Grace Cathedral Organ Concerts
Oakland East Bay Symphony

Other Notable Performances

A composer, his music is published by GIA, Augsburg, Morning Star, World Library Publications, Trinitas and Concordia.

For a complete list and sound clips click HERE.