Cherry Rhodes

Cherry Rhodes serves as Adjunct Professor of Organ at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where she has taught since 1975. Renowned as the first American to win Munich's International Organ Competition, her career features extensive international performances across 50+ venues including Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Royal Festival Hall, with premieres of works by Tower, Hampton, and Guillou.

Her educational foundation includes:

• Graduate of Curtis Institute of Music under Dr. Alexander McCurdy
• Fulbright Grant studies with Karl Richter in Munich
• Rockefeller Grant studies with Marie-Claire Alain and Jean Guillou in Paris

Professor Rhodes' artistic focus centers on expanding organ repertoire through premieres of contemporary compositions and scholarly engagement with historical performance practices. Her expertise spans concert organ performance, music education methodology, and organology—evidenced by contributions to books like Visionen and Organ-isms.

Her accolades include:

• Munich International Organ Competition victory (historic first for Americans)
• Fulbright and Rockefeller Grants for European study
• 2015 American Guild of Organists Distinguished Artist Award (shared with spouse)

As an educator, she mentors award-winning students across continents while serving on the Ruth and Clarence Mader Scholarship Fund board. Her global influence extends through masterclasses and adjudication at major competitions including Shanghai's International Pipe Organ Competitions (2017, 2019). Professor Rhodes remains actively engaged in performance, education, and scholarly discourse within the international organ community.