People Directory

Raised in a musical family in Appleton, Wisconsin, Daniel Schwandt has established himself as a thoughtful and engaging voice in the organ world through his work as a performer, church musician, composer, and teacher. He is an advocate for music that is engaging and accessible to diverse audiences, honoring both the pipe organ’s historic place in western music while being responsive to its evolving role in contemporary society. In addition to teaching at Purdue Fort Wayne, Schwandt is also University Organist and Lecturer in Music at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Prior to graduate studies, Schwandt served as the Cantor of Lutheran congregations in Minneapolis and Chicago, and for twelve years was the Seminary Cantor of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He regularly performs concerts, hymn festivals, and leads workshops in organ and church music around the United States. His compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, MorningStar Music, and GIA Publications. As a collaborative musician, Schwandt frequently performs in continuo groups and is an enthusiastic leader of congregational singing. He regularly works as an organ technician, maintaining several pipe organs and his collection of historic American reed organs. Schwandt received his Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College and a Master of Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame. His primary organ teachers have included George Damp, John Ferguson, Douglas Reed, Craig Cramer, and Kola Owolabi. He studied composition with Carolyn Jennings and John Liberatore, and conducting with Anton Armstrong and Carmen-Helena Téllez. As a candidate for the DMA in organ performance at the University of Notre Dame, his doctoral research focuses on the mid-twentieth century organist, composer, and pedagogue David N. Johnson and his contributions to American organ music.