The Spreckels Organ Society will present Thomas Ospital, a young artist who is considered one of the world’s finest concert organists, on Aug. 5 during the summer San Diego International Organ Festival.
Ospital is best known as the Titulaire of the grand organ at Saint-Eustache Church in Paris, and organist in residence at Radio France Concert Hall. His concert is the seventh of 11 featuring international talent pushing the artistic boundaries of a traditional sound in Balboa Park’s most majestic open-air setting.
He was awarded first prize at the 2009 International Competition of Organ in Saragossa, Spain, and in 2014 he took the Grand Prize, the Jean Louis Florentz Prize, and the Audience Prize at the International Organ Competition of Angers.
Ospital is equally at home performing as a solo recitalist or with choir or orchestra, and is said to be eager to perpetuate the art of improvisation in all of its forms, including the accompaniment of silent films. His performances have taken him throughout Europe, Russia, and North America, where in 2012 he served for six months as young artist in residence at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis King of France in New Orleans.
San Diego International Organ Festival concerts start at 7:30 p.m., are family and pet-friendly, and free admission is made possible by the city of San Diego, the Spreckels Organ Society, and its members and underwriters.
Snacks, beverages and gifts are available, and proceeds from donations benefit the nonprofit Spreckels Organ Society working to preserve, program, and promote the Spreckels Organ as a musical gift to humanity. The historic 1914 Spreckels Organ is the largest open-air musical instrument in the world.
For more information, visit SpreckelsOrgan.org or the Spreckels Organ Society on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @SpreckelsOrgan.