Philip Hoch

California native Philip Hoch is the artist teacher of organ and visiting assistant professor of music at the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. 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.

Hoch was introduced to the organ at age 5 through his grandmother and concert organist, Olga Schmidt. After studying with her in his youth, Hoch earned a bachelor's and master's degree from University of Redlands, where he was a student of world-renowned organist Frederick Swann. Under Swann's tutelage, Hoch 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, Hoch was awarded an assistantship to teach private lessons for the organ department.

Following his studies at University of Redlands, Hoch 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 Christoph Bull, a specialist in improvisation, recreating pop and rock and roll pieces on the organ, and hymnody. From 2019 to 2021, Hoch 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, Hoch, 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 David Harris, on the great organs at FCCLA. Selections from the album earned the No. 1 spot on Apple Music's "Sacred Sounds" playlist in 2021.

In his dissertation, Transcribing Philip Glass's Glassworks: Historiography, Case Study, Methodology, 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.

Hoch 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 Irene Messoloras.

As an educator, 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

• Liturgical playing
• Minimalism studies
• Organ performance
• Registration practices
• Transcription studies
• Works by Philip Glass

• D.M.A. dissertation: Transcribing Philip Glass's Glassworks: Historiography, Case Study, Methodology
• Meritorious conference presentation: "Music, Voice & Collaboration: Creating Interprofessional Learning Opportunities at a Liberal Arts University." Contributing authors: Julia Shuler, Gillian Maguire, Ilse Kruze, and Ariel Estébez.

• 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.