Philip Hoch

California-native, Dr. Philip Hoch, is the new Artist Teacher of Organ and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. Dr. Hoch is the organist at Shepherd’s Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California, which houses the televised church program, Hour of Power with Bobby Schuller, seen weekly by millions of viewers on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Philip was introduced to the organ at age five through his grandmother and concert organist, Dr. Olga Schmidt. After studying with her in his youth, Philip earned a bachelor’s (2016) and master’s degrees (2018) from the University of Redlands, where he was a student of world-renowned organist Frederick Swann. Under Swann’s tutelage, Philip performed all his recitals from memory, many of which featured demanding works by Paul Hindemith, Alexandre Guilmant, and Maurice Duruflé. He was a two-time recipient of the President’s Honor Recital (2016 and 2017), where he performed a recital in the presence of the University’s president. He was a finalist for the School of Music’s Concerto Competition in 2016 after performing Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ and Orchestra from memory. He was inducted into the elite music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda, in 2016, in recognition of his academic excellence and service to the School of Music. As a graduate student, Philip was awarded an assistantship to teach private lessons for the organ department.

Following his studies at the University of Redlands, Philip earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles. He studied organ performance with Dr. Christoph Bull, a specialist in improvisation, recreating pop and rock & roll pieces on the organ, and hymnody. From 2019 to 2021, Philip had the privilege of serving as Organ Scholar at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, home to the largest church pipe organ in the world. In 2020, Philip, Christoph, and FCCLA’s elite vocal ensemble, Laude, collaborated with renowned Irish film composer, Patrick Cassidy, to recreate his 16-movement masterwork, The Mass, directed by Dr. David Harris, on the Great organs at FCCLA. Selections from the album earned the number 1 spot on Apple Music’s “Sacred Sounds” playlist in 2021.

In his dissertation, Transcribing Philip Glass’s Glassworks: Historiography, Case Study, Methodology, Dr. Hoch reevaluates and investigates contemporary practices for organ transcription, offering a compelling perspective through minimalist works. His dissertation study discloses a thorough methodology for creating an organ transcription of Philip Glass’s Glassworks, which premiered in May 2021 at FCCLA. Hoch’s areas of specialization include organ performance, transcription studies, minimalism studies, organ registration practices, liturgical studies, and works by Philip Glass.

Philip is also an active chorister. He served as a choral assistant for the ensembles directed by Nicholle Andrews and Joseph Modica. He shared the stage with several world-class choral ensembles and soloists, including The King’s Singers, Chanticleer, Seraphic Fire Young Artists, Pete Townshend, Billy Idol, and Josh Groban. He sings weekly as a bass in the Hour of Power Choir, directed by Dr. Irene Messoloras.

As an educator, Dr. Hoch aspires to cultivate dynamic artists that are well-versed in organ performance practicum, diverse repertoire, and history and development of the instrument.

• B.M., University of Redlands

• M.M., University of Redlands

• D.M.A, University of California, Los Angeles

• Organ Performance
• Liturgical Playing
• Registration Practices
• Transcription Studies
• Minimalism Studies
• Works by Philip Glass

Recordings

• “The Mass” by Patrick Cassidy. Performed by Christoph Bull, Philip Hoch, and Laude. Directed by David Harris. Supertrain Records, 2021.

• “O.K.” by Chris Picco. Single, 2020.