David Blunden,

David Blunden received his first piano and organ lessons in his native Sydney. A scholarship enabled him to study organ with David Rumsey at the Conservatory; he graduated in 1997. His interest in early music led him to Switzerland. At the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis he studied organ with Jean-Claude Zehnder, harpsichord with Andrea Marcon and improvisation with Rudolf Lutz. In 2002 he graduated with the rarely awarded "Summa cum Laude". In September 2001 David Blunden won first prize at the International Organ Competition in Innsbruck. David Blunden performs at the major festivals, theatres and churches in Europe, as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, as well as accompanist. Organ recitals in Treviso, Innsbruck and Lausanne among others. He recorded a CD with music from the Renaissance on the Rhysum organ, the oldest organ in Germany (1457). As a basso continuo player, David Blunden works with various baroque orchestras and ensembles throughout Europe and Australia. His special interest in opera led him to work as musical assistant at the Theater Basel. He regularly accompanies singers on piano, harpsichord or organ. He is organist at the Heiliggeistkirche in Basel. At the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis he works as correpetitor and especially accompanies and coaches singers.