About Jillian Gardner
Jillian Gardner is the Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama, where she serves as the primary organist and oversees both adult and children’s music ensembles. Additionally, she is the adjunct instructor of organ at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the only institution in Alabama offering a degree in organ or church music. Jillian recently completed a seven-year term as the Councillor for Young Organists on the American Guild of Organists National Board, where she led an initiative that introduced over 1,200 new young organists to the Guild. In her final year, she also developed and launched an organ scholar program to provide professional growth opportunities for young musicians.
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Known for her "solid and satisfying" performances (The Dessert Wind), Jillian brings accessibility and variety to her organ programming. She has been a sought-after artist at venues and conventions worldwide, performing in iconic locations such as Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Grace Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, the Cadet Chapel at West Point, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Her performances have taken her across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where she is known for her signature pink organ shoes. She has been featured on the Pipedreams radio show, at the Organ Historical Society and American Guild of Organists conventions, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and has led workshops at institutions like Baylor University’s summer organ institute.
Jillian’s expansive repertoire spans from the Baroque to the 21st century, including her own transcriptions and commissioned works. One of her notable transcriptions, "Grande valse villageoise" from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, is published with ECS Publishing and has been praised as a “fun recital piece” (Mark Quarmby). An accomplished collaborator, she frequently performs with brass ensembles, choirs, and symphony orchestras, and is highly regarded as both a soloist and accompanist.
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A graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory (B.M.) and Baylor University (M.M. and A.D.), Jillian studied under the guidance of renowned organists Dr. Isabelle Demers, James David Christie, Marie-Louise Langlais, and Stephen Best. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including top prizes in the Regional Competition for Young Organists and the Arthur Pointer Competition. In 2015, she was named one of the nation’s inaugural "Top 20 under 30" organists by The Diapason magazine.
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Jillian is passionate about the connection between wellness and artistry, advocating for the importance of a healthy mind and body to sustain high artistic standards. For more information and to connect, visit JillianGardner.com.
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Private lessons and coachings:
It is a teacher's job to understand that every student's needs are different. Each lesson and student are approached with flexibility in order to help each student thrive and reach their full potential. Skills will include performance and interpretation, technical facility, and body awareness. We will use exercises, solo repertoire, and sight-reading as a basis to build on these skills.
Private lessons are offered in half-hour and full-hour increments on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Coachings are available as needed in the areas of organ repertoire and church repertoire, hymn playing, choir accompaniment, transcriptions, and registration.
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College study:
Jillian is the organ instructor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). UAH is the only school in the state of Alabama that offers a degree in organ or church music. Visit here for more information and to apply: https://www.uah.edu/ahs/departments/music
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Purchase music:
Jillian is published by E.C. Schirmer Music Company. Her music can be viewed and purchased here: https://www.canticledistributing.com/composers/g/jillian-gardner.html
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